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No. 1 'of Charles PicoVs Series of School Books. 

FIRST LESSONS 



IN 



FRENCH: 



COXSISTLSG- OF 



RULES AND DIRECTIONS 



FOR THE 



ATTAINMENT OF A JUST PRONUNCIATION: 

SELECT PIECES, 

SENTENCES, COLLOQUIAL PHRASES, AND 
WORDS IN GENERAL USE, 

CONVENIENTLY ARRANGED FOR DOUBLE TRANSLATION, FROM FRENCH 
INTO ENGLISH, AND FROM ENGLISH INTO FRENCH. 



BY CHARLES PICOT. 



A NEW AND IMPROVED EDITION. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

SOLD BY THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS, 

1843. 










Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1S43, by 

CHARLES PICOT, 

in the clerk's office of the district court oi the United States, in and for 
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



J. FAGAN, STEREOTYPER. 
J. GIHON, PRINTER. 



(2) 



OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES OF THE WORK. 

The object of the present publication is to afford to persons 
desirous of learning French, a sure and easy method of acquir- 
ing a just pronunciation of that language, and, at the same time, 
convenient means of promptly mastering, both for the purpose 
of translation and conversation, a great number of its most use- 
ful words and phrases. 

Many judicious persons are of opinion, that, to learn a for- 
eign language promptly and successfully, it is advisable to study 
it not only for translation but also for conversation. That opin- 
ion is well grounded, for it is a law of the human mind, that in 
every department, knowledge is much more easily and rapidly 
acquired, and certainly much better retained, when the first im- 
pressions that are received, are made as strong as possible. 
And every reflecting man will perceive that the mastering of 
words and phrases for the purpose of using them in conversa- 
tion, requires a much stronger application of attention, than the 
ordinary guessing of the sense, which takes place in the trans- 
lation of ideas from a foreign language which we are learning, 
into our native tongue. 

The means here proposed for the attainment of this twofold 
object have been tried for a number of years in Philadelphia, 
and have proved more successful than any other with which the 
author, who has devoted a great portion of his time and atten- 
tion to the subject, is acquainted. 

The advantages which those means are calculated to afford, 
are very great ; they are the following : 

1st. The student having previously learned how to pro- 
nounce about a dozen short words, containing all the element- 
ary sounds of the French language, which are not found in 
English, can very readily ascertain the sound of every letter or 
combination of letters. 

V (3) 



IV OBJECT OF THE WORK. 

2d. The longest words can be read with as much facility as 
the shortest, because a few rules or directions, the understanding 
and application of which are equally easy, teach the proper divi- 
sion of words into syllables. 

3d. The frequent exercise of dividing words into syllables, 
which is recommended as so very important for the attainment 
of a just French pronunciation, greatly facilitates the applica- 
tion of the rule for proper accentuation. Experience has shown, 
that, when this exercise is omitted or is not frequently resorted to 
for a considerable length of time, the student can seldom get rid 
of the habit of placing the stress of the voice in French words, 
as in those of his own language — a manner of pronouncing by 
which a French ear is most disagreeably affected. 

4th. The proper accentuation of syllables is taught by one 
rule without exception. 

5th. One of the most important advantages of this method 
of teaching pronunciation, is, that many pupils of common 
capacity, and docility, can be instructed simultaneously, not only 
with as much success as if taught individually, but indeed much 
more agreeably ; as the accurate observance of time, which 
must take place in a simultaneous repetition of syllables after 
the teacher, or spontaneous utterance of the same by the pupils, 
never fails to excite the interest of the class, and secure order 
and attention. 

6th. It very frequently happens that in common conversa- 
tion, and familiar reading, the French suppress, or rather very 
faintly utter, the sound of e : a rule teaching when this sup- 
pression, or faint utterance is to take place, will enable the 
learner to imitate the pronunciation of the natives of France in 
this respect, and to understand them in conversation much more 
easily. 

7th. A rule by means of which it can be determined when 
a final consonant is silent, when it must be sounded, and when 
united to the vowel beginning the next word, will be found of 
great service. 



OBJECT OF THE WORK. V 

8th. Directions are given for the attainment of the tones and 
inflections peculiar to the French language. 

9th. The figured exercises, a model of which is offered (page 
20), will prove extremely advantageous; as the teacher, by 
examining them at his convenience, will instantly discover, 
which principles are clearly understood, and correctly applied 
by the pupils, and which are those that require further explana- 
tion and study, 

10th. The exercises for double translation, (page 24), con- 
sisting of interesting pieces, easily remembered, and susceptible 
of being translated literally, or word for word, from either lan- 
guage into the other, presenting the French text on one page and 
the English opposite, with very convenient divisions for finding 
at once the corresponding ideas in the two languages, afford, 
when properly used, beside the advantage of interlinear trans- 
lation, more efficacious and interesting means than any other 
arrangement, for the prompt acquisition of those words and 
phrases which are most frequently used. 

The advantages of this plan will be more appreciated, when 
contrasted with the disadvantages of a method very extensively 
followed in the teaching of French in classes. A certain num- 
ber of pupils of various ages, capacities and acquirements, are 
formed into a class, and receive three times a week, from a 
■competent or incompetent teacher, a " French lesson," of half 
an hour or one hour. Before they are acquainted with the ele- 
ments of pronunciation, I do not mean the names of letters, but 
the sounds and the various ways of representing them, they 
are requested, each pupil in his turn, to read a few lines of a 
French text. The teacher soon becomes as tired of correcting 
the mistakes which are continually uttered, as of giving expla- 
nations, which are often unintelligible and seldom attended to ; 
he thus allows a very vicious pronunciation to be heard by the 
class. The effect of such a course with respect to pronuncia- 
tion can easily be imagined. 

A* 



VI OBJECT OF THE WORK. 

A portion of the text, after having thus been horribly mangled, 
is ordered to be translated into English, but the numerous mis- 
constructions which beginners make, after having been directed 
to use, for assisting them in preparing their task, either an inter- 
linear translation or a dictionary, are truly ludicrous ; because, 
being generally requested to translate only from French into 
English, they soon accustom themselves merely to guess at the 
sense, and rely more on their imagination, than on a faithful 
and persevering industry. A portion of the hour, or half hour, 
is also devoted to correcting exercises on abstract and often 
unintelligible, or false rules, which many pupils do not even 
take the trouble to read or understand ; and as no more attention 
is paid to the corrections of the mistakes, than to the application 
of the rules, the only result which can be expected from such a 
course, is a lamentable loss of time. 

The author's aim in making the present selection, was not so 
much to present elaborate original compositions, or elegant ex- 
tracts, which may be found everywhere, but can neither be 
appreciated nor relished by the reader, when he has to contend 
with all kinds of difficulties, as to furnish French students, of 
almost every capacity, with a few pieces containing the words 
in most general use, sufficiently interesting to be easily remem- 
bered, and related in the manner recommended (page ix), ad- 
mitting of being translated word for word from one language 
into the other, conveniently arranged for the purpose of double 
translation, and calculated to insure a great saving of labour 
and time both to the teacher and pupil. 

A volume containing instructive and interesting pieces adapted 
to the purpose of narration for advanced pupils, will soon be 
published, with other works which the author's long experience 
lias pointed out as eminently necessary to those who wish to 
make the study of the French language as useful as possible. 



MODE OF USING THIS WORK, 

AND STUDYING FRENCH FOR ALL PURPOSES. 

If the advantage of a teacher can be secured for a certain 
length of time, the following course is recommended : 

A person having a good French pronunciation, after request- 
ing the pupil or pupils to look at him occasionally, and notice 
how he places the organs of speech, will form very slowly and 
distinctly all the elementary sounds, and compare them with 
sounds similar or nearly similar in English words. As soon as 
the pupil is able to imitate the teacher exactly in the formation 
of any of the sounds, he will be directed to repeat it carefully 
and several times in succession. All the compound syllables, 
words and portions of phrases, will be pronounced and repeated 
in the same manner. 

The frequent pronouncing of the same sound, word, portion 
of phrase by the teacher, and the much more frequent repetition 
of the same by the pupil or class, must take place, in order to 
secure the attainment of the object in view. 

The rules and directions concerning the French pronunciation 
having been read, the judicious teacher will ask a great number 
of questions in order to ascertain whether the pupils have cor- 
rect views of all that relates to the subject of pronunciation. He 
will thus render less irksome, those very frequent repetitions of 
syllables and words, which are absolutely necessary to insure 
success. 

The learner having sufficiently attended to the formation of 
the sounds, &c, is to begin to learn the text in the manner 
indicated at the bottom of pages 24 and 25. And it is again 
particularly recommended to him not to commit a lesson to 
memory, or translate it from English into French, before he is 

(vii) 



Vlll MODE OF USING TIIE WORK. 

able to pronounce it as perfectly as his instructed A long 
experience authorizes the assertion, that so minute an attention 
to pronunciation at first, very far from occasioning a loss, posi- 
tively secures a considerable gain of time, both for the teacher 
and the pupil, or class. 

The better to familiarize the pupil with the manner of speak- 
ing used bv the French in common conversation, it is moreover 
proposed, that the teacher should read, sometimes slowly, some- 
times rapidly, and even negligently, the lessons already well 
recited, and to submit for immediate viva voce translation by the 
class, portions of the said lessons taken at random, and variously 
combined. 

Before learning a lesson by heart, or attempting its transla- 
tion from English into French, let the pupils write the analysis 
of it in syllables, and put over each letter, or combination of 
letters, the figure which recalls its accurate sound, and use the 
various marks or signs agreed upon to indicate the whispering 
of the second sound, the suppression, or particular sound of a 
letter, the junction of final consonants, the stress of the voice, &c, 
and thus enable his instructer to give him proper advice. This 
important exercise will promote the mental activity of the stu- 
dent, and lead to a great economy of the teacher's time and 
labour. 

Whilst the pupil is acquiring a good pronunciation of French, 
and learning the text with the translation (page 25), it is neces- 
sary that he should carefully attend to the study of the verbs, 
articles, pronouns, which he will find in Picot's French Student's 
Assistant, and to the object of the principal rules, such as the 
agreement of the verb with its nominative, of the adjective with 
its substantive, of the pronoun with the noun to which it refers, 
&c. He must, besides, make himself master of the phrases and 
words in most common use, not forgetting the very important 
principle already recommended — never to commit anything to 
memory, or read French rapidly, until he is able to pronounce 
it perfectly. But he is not to limit himself to the translating of a 



MODE OF USING THE WORK. ix 

great deal of French into English, and of English into French ; 
he must frequently devote a good portion of his time to a most 
useful exercise, which, if properly practised, will, more than 
any other, contribute to enable him to speak Frerich fluently, at 
the same time that it will strengthen his mind, make it active, 
and store it with valuable knowledge : I mean, relating in his 
own words, minutely, then succinctly, with varied and AU- 
THORIZED equivalent expressions, after a proper analysis 
of the ideas, and a careful comparison of the two languages, 
the substance of the most interesting and instructive authors. 
And to increase, as much as possible, the advantages of this 
exercise, which must be practised, often orally, and sometimes 
in writing, the pupil should not neglect to verify the accuracy 
of his narration, by comparing it with the original, or to submit 
it to a person competent to correct the mistakes, and give him 
proper advice. Having for some time followed the above recom- 
mended course, those who wish to obtain a thorough and critical 
knowledge of French will find the studying of the best gram- 
mars, and other works on that language, eminently useful and 
comparatively easy. 

The pupil will have, in proper time, to answer questions like 
the following, the reading of which will render more intelligible 
the mode of using the present work. 



QUESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS, 

From which the mode of using this toorlc, and studying French 
successfully, may be inferred. 

Do you understand the difference between the name and the 
sound of a letter? Name the first letter of the word sad. 
Give the sound, not the name of its first letter. Name the 
second letter. Sound it. Give the sound of the same letter a 
in fate, in fall. Give the sound of d in sad, of t in action, of 
g in judge, of u in judge, in put, in tube. How many vowels 
are there ? How many vowel sounds ? How many consonant 
sounds? How is the first vowel sound represented? Give the 
first vowel sound — the 2d, 3d, 4th, &c. What are the equiva- 
lents of a 1 of e, of e, &c. What is the difference between the 
sound of a in ma and that of a in bas ? of e and e ? of o in trop 
and 6 in tot ? How many simple syllables are there? What is 
the first? the 2d, 3d, &c. ? What vowel sounds are peculiar to 
the French language ? Does the sound of a in the French word 
ma, differ from that of a in at, in far ? Give the sound of a in 
fate, the sound of the first e in there. What is the difference ? 
Is the sound of u in the English word duet the same as that of u 
in vu ? The 12th simple syllable consists of two sounds; which 
are they? The 13th simple syllable consists of two sounds; 
which are they? By which numbers would you indicate them? 
Do the sounds of the 12th syllable when united into a diphthong 
remain exactly the same ? What do you say of the 7th and 
9th vowel sounds, when rapidly pronounced together to form 
the 13th syllable? Which are the five French vowel sounds 
that are not found in English ? Which are the two consonant 
sounds peculiar to the French ? What are the letters of the 
English word onion, which represent a consonant sound said to 

x 



QUESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS. XI 

be nearly similar to that of gn in ognon ? What are the letters 
of the English word Seraglio, which represent a sound said to 
be similar to that of il in serail ? Looking at the letters of the 
alphabet, give the sound of each, not the name. Looking at the 
combinations of letters, ai, au, ei, ou, an, in, on, un, ph, gn, ill, 
bb, give the sound which belongs to each. Give the sounds of 
the two consonants bd, db, br, rb, bs, sb, bt, tb, &c. Pronounce 
rapidly the three consonants bst, bts, sbt. Name the same. If 
you know perfectly which letters of any word must be taken in 
combination, and also the sound which must be given to each 
letter or combination of letters, is it difficult to divide that word 
into syllables? What is the end of a compound syllable? 
What is the beginning? When n or m is taken in combination 
with a preceding vowel, is it sounded ? has it its proper sound ? 
In the combination eau, are the e, the a, the u sounded ? To 
which letter is the combination eau equivalent? What number 
will you put over the combination eau in a figured exercise, to 
show that you know the sound which it must receive ? Do the 
combinations als, ait, aient, at the end of verbs, represent the 
third sound close or open ? Knowing that the thirteen simple 
syllables are the only terminations of the compound syllables, 
and that the beginning of a compound syllable must be one of 
the eighteen consonant sounds, can you tell how many syllables 
there are? And if you admit that the second vowel sound is 
always more or less heard between any two consonants or after 
a final consonant, can you tell what is the whole number of 
syllables in French? How many compound syllables can you 
make with b? How many can you make with c, d, f, g, &c? 
Being able to form the thirteen compound syllables which can 
be made with b, and recollecting that the thirteen simple sylla- 
bles are the only possible terminations of the compound syllables, 
will it be difficult to form those that can be made with the other 
consonant sounds? Can you enumerate the difficulties that are 
to be overcome by a foreigner who wishes to read French well ? 
Is it more easy for a person whose vernacular tongue is 



Xii QUESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS. 

English, and who has been studying French a short time, to 
translate a subject from French into English, or from English 
into French ? Which of these two kinds of translation is to be 
most frequently practised, if the student's object is to acquire a 
prompt, positive and lasting knowledge of French for all pur- 
poses ? 

Of all the words belonging to any language, but a very limited 
number are frequently combined together, and varied infinitely, 
to form the most necessary phrases, whilst most of the others 
are very seldom used ; this being admitted, it would almost be 
an insult to the meanest understanding to ask this question : — 
Which are the words that require an early and more particular 
attention ? 

It is recommended to the pupil to compare the two languages 
attentively, and to the teacher to give the pupil, orally, those 
explanations which may be needed. 



CONTENTS. 



Object and advantages of the Work Page iii 

Mode of Using this Work vii 

Questions and Directions x 

Pronunciation, Alphabet, &c. 2 

Table I. Vowel Sounds. 13 Simple Syllables 3 

Vowel Sounds at the End of Words 4 

Table I Explained 4 

Important Remarks relating to Table I 5 

Remarks on e, es, ent 6 

Remarks on the letter Y 7 

Remarks on er, ez, ai, ais, ait, aient, ect 8 

Remarks on the French Diphthongs 8 

Table II. The 18 Consonant Sounds 9 

Remarks on Consonants, and Consonant Sounds 10 

Table III. All the Simple and Compound Syllables 13 

Division of Words into Syllables 14 

Accent, or Stress of the Voice 16 

Suppression or u Whispering" of the Second Sound 17 

Suppression of the Sound of L IS 

Connexion of Words 18 

Key to page 20, and Irregular Words 19 

Syllabic Division, and Figured Exercises 20 

Le Cor des Alpes. — The Alpine Horn 24, 25 

Avantages de la Religion. — Advantages of Religion 24, 25 

La Tortue, &c.— The Tortoise, a Fable 26, 27 

Heroisme. — Heroism 28, 29 

Les Singes.— The Apes, a Fable 28-, 29 

Le Soldat Mourant— The dying Soldier 30, 31 

L'Elephant.— The Elephant, a Fable B 32, 33 

Affection Fraternelle. — Fraternal Affection 34, 35 

Le Meunier, Sec— The Miller, &c, a Fable 36, 37 

Avantages de L'Etude. — Advantages of Study 40, 41 

Ingratitude. — Ingratitude, a Tale 42, 43 

Depart de Gilblas.— Departure of Gilblas 58, 59 

Solution de Deux Questions. — Solution of Two Questions 60, 61 

Le Sultan Mahmoud. — Sultan Mahmoud 66, 67 

Episode dTdomenee. — Episode of Idomeneus 68, 69 

Le Rat de Ville, &c— The City Rat, &c, a Fable 74, 75 

Conte Oriental. — An Eastern Tale 76, 77 

Rapidite de la Vie.— Rapidity of Life 102, 103 

Phrases Choisies.— Select Sentences , 106, 107 

Phrases Familieres.— Familiar Phrases , 112, 1 13 

1 (1) 



PRONUNCIATION. 



FRENCH ALPHABET, 
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz. 

VOWELS, 
a e i o u y. 

CONSONANTS, 
bcdfghjklmnpqrstvwxz. 

Letters with Accents, and other Marks. 
aaeeeiouueiuQ. 

COMBINATIONS OF LETTERS. 

There are simple sounds for which the French language 
has no single characters, such as the sounds of the combina- 
tions : 

ou an in on un ch gn ill. 

Combinations of letters are sometimes used to represent sim- 
ple sounds, for which the French have single characters, such 
as : eu au eau ai ph, &c. 

The letters of the French Alphabet may be named as in Eng- 
lish be, ce, dc, &c. ; the important point is that the student should 
give each letter or combination of letters its proper sound. The 
SOUND of a letter must not be confounded with its NAME. 

There are only seven sounds which are peculiar to the French 
language, namely, those of: 

U, AN, IN, ON, UN, GN, L " mouillc" 

m 



PRONUNCIATION. 3 

TABLE I.— (Explained page 4.) 

Letters and Combinations of Letters representing 

THE ELEVEN VOWEL SOUNDS, 

Which, with the Diphthongs oi, oin, form 

THE THIRTEEN SIMPLE SYLLABLES, 

OR TERMINATIONS OF THE COMPOUND SYLLABLES. 

1. a. a. a. 

2. e. eu. eu. oeu. 

3. e. e. e. e. ai. ai. ei. 

4. i. i. y. 

5. o. 6. au. eau. 

6. u. u. u. 

7. ou. ou. ou. 

8. an. am. en. em. 

9. in. im. ain. aim. ein. yn. ym. en. win 

10. on. om. 

11. un. urn. 

7 + 1 12 

12. oi. oi. ( = ou + a) \oi. 

7 + 9 13 

13. oin. ( = ou + in) loin. 

For the same at the end of words, see page 4. 



1 l 1 


1 l 1 


ma. bas. 


at. father. 


2 2 2 2 


2 2 


pre-new-se. 


jwdge. 


3 3 3 


3 3 3 


de-ces. 


fate, there. 


4 4 


4 


ci-gzt. 


me. 


5 5 5 


5 5 5 


trop-tot. 


nor. over. 


6 6 


6 


\u. dw. 


dwet. 


7 7 


7 


cow. yoiite. 


cool. 


8 


8 


paw. 


want. 


9 


9 


win. 


vanquish. 


10 


10 


bow. 


conquer. 


11 


11 


brnn. 


rnng. 



4 PRONUNCIATION. 

At the end of words, the same Vowel Sounds, or Simple 
Syllables, are often represented, as follows : — 

1. as, at, at, ats. 

2. es, eue, eues, eux # ent. 

3. aie, ee, ees, er, et, ets, ez # eent # aient. 

4. ie, ies, ys, it, it # ient. 

5. aux, os, ots, aud, auds, 6t, ots. 

6. ue, ues, ut, uts # uent. 

7. oue, oues, out, outs, oux # ouent. 

8. ant, ants, end, ends, ent, ents, ens. 

9. ins, int, en, ens, ains, ainc, aincs, eins, eint 

10. ons, ont, ond, onds. 

11. uns, urns. 

12. ois, oit, oit, oids, oie, oies # oient. 

13. oins, oint. 



TABLE I. EXPLAINED. 

The figures 1, l 1 , 2, 2 2 , 2 , 3, &c., will recall the sounds of 
the letters, or combinations of letters, over which they are placed 
in the French standard words ma, has, &c, viz. : 

1, will recall the first vowel sound close, or that of a in ma, 
nearly the sound of a in the English word fat. 

I 1 , will recall the first vowel sound open, or that of a in has, 
nearly the sound of a in father, or of a in mat. 

2, the second vowel sound short, or that of the first e of pre- 
neuse, nearly that of u in judge. 

2 2 , the second vowel sound long, or that of the combination 
eu in preneuse* 

2 , the second sound " whispered,'''* or the very faint sound of 
c at the end ofpreneuse or judge, c " mute" 

* At the end of the third person plural of vcrhs, ent = 2 , or 2, aient =3 3 
ient = 4, uent = 6, ouent = 7, oient = 12, cent = 3. 



PRONUNCIATION. 5 

3, the third vowel sound close, or that of e in deeds, that of a 
in fate ; of e in ete. 

3 3 , the third vowel sound open, or that of e in deces, that of e 
in there; or & in meme. 

4, the fourth vowel sound long or short, that of i and i in 
ci-git, of e in the English word me. 

5, the fifth vowel sound close, that of o in trop, nearly that of 
o in nor. 

5 5 , the fifth vowel sound open, that of 6 in tot, nearly that of 
o in over. 

6, the sixth vowel sound long or short, that of u in vu, or u 
in du; " nearly" that of u in dwe£, as some assert. 

7, The seventh vowel sound short or long, that of ou in cou, 
" nearly" that of oo in cool; or owe in roue. 

8, the eighth vowel sound long or short, that of an in pan, 
a nearly" that of an in want, as pronounced by some. 

9, the ninth vowel sound long or short, that of in in vin, 
"nearly" that of an in vanquish, as some fancy. 

10, the tenth vowel sound long or short, that of on in bon, 
" nearly" that of on in conquer, as some assert. 

11, the eleventh vowel sound, long or short, that of un in 
brun, " nearly that of un in rung," as some assert. 

12, will recall the twelfth simple syllable, consisting of the 
seventh and first vowel sounds, a little modified when united into 
a diphthong, as oi in loi. 

13, the thirteenth simple syllable, consisting of the seventh 
and ninth vowel sounds united into a diphthong, as oih in loin. 
Some pronounce oin like o,in. 



Important Remarks and Directions relating to Table I, 
When you are not able to determine whether a vowel sound 

is long or short, close or open, make it neither too long nor too 

short, neither too open nor too close. 

E represents the third vowel sound close. 



6 PRONUNCIATION. 

A, £, £, d, ait, aient, eau, almost always represent open and long 

sounds. 
EU, eue, eu, ceu, always represent the second sound long. 
EN at the beginning of words = 8. Ex. : en-fin, 
EN at the middle of words = 8. Ex. : en-ten-de-ment. 
EN at the end of words = 9. Ex. : bi-en. 
ENS, final = 9, when s is the mark of the plural. Ex. : mien, 

miens, chien, chlens, bien, hiens. 
ENS, final = 9, in the verbs tenir, venir and their compounds. 
Ex. : tiens, viens, reviens, apprtiens. 

Never make the sound of a, i, o, so short as in fat, fit, hot. 

A diaeresis on a vowel indicates that that vowel must be 
sounded by itself; so au are sounded like a and u. 

The English words at, father, &c., are merely given as 
means of comparison and association, to enable the pupil to 
proceed from what he knows to what he is to learn, and must 
be dispensed with, as soon as the sounds are well mastered. 

To facilitate the recollection of the various ways of represent- 
ing the simple syllables, remember, 1st, that e final coming after 
a vowel may be considered as null, or that it only serves to 
lengthen the vowel sound given to the preceding letter, or com- 
bination of letters : 2d, that final consonants, with the exception 
of c, f I, r, generally are not sounded : 3d, see remarks on ent, 
page 7. 

Some consider the sound of eu as a distinct sound. Some 
sound oi as oa. 



REMARKS ON E, ES, ENT. 

The figures refer to the Standard Words, Table I. 
E represents the second sound short, when before two conso- 
nants, the second of which is r. Ex. : regret. 
E = 3 3 when before rr or double consonants. Ex. : terre. 
E = 3 3 when before several consonants. Ex. : respects. 



PRONUNCIATION. 7 

E = 3 or 3 3 when before a final consonant other than s. Ex. : 
del, avec, pied. 

E = 3 3 in monosyllables ending in a consonant. Ex. : des, ces, 
est, les, mes, ses, tes, &c. 

E = 1, or a, before the mm of the termination eminent, Ex. : 
recemme/i£. 

ES = 2 when it is the termination of words of two syllables or 
more. Ex. : places, etes, &c. 

ENT, when ending the third person plural of verbs, is equivalent 
to e, and therefore either represents the second vowel sound 
short, 2, or serves to lengthen the vowel sound of the pre- 
ceding letter or combination of letters. Ex. : Us airnent, 
ilsprient, Us portent. 

ENT, when not ending the third person plural of verbs, generally 
represents the eighth vowel sound. Ex. : comment, senti- 
ment, sent. 

ENT = 9, in the termination ient of the verbs tenir, venir, and 
their compounds. Ex. : il tient, vient. 

E = 3, in the conjunction et, (and,) and the t is never sounded, 
not even when the following word begins with a vowel. 

E without an accent, when before a, o, is null. Ex. : George. 

E without an accent, coming immediately after a vowel, is not 
sounded. Ex. : annee, vie, vue, creerai, prierai, twerai, 
jowerai. 

E final, before a vowel, is not sounded. Ex. : elle a quelque 
ami, parle a Jean. 



REMARKS ON THE LETTER Y. 

The letter Y when between two vowels in the same word, or 
only preceded by a vowel, is equivalent to i, i ; one i is taken 
with the preceding vowel to form a combination, which must 
receive its proper sound ; the other i is sounded by itself, and 
may form a diphthong, with the following vowel sound. Ex. : 
ayant = ai-i-ant ; pays = pai-is. 



8 PRONUNCIATION. 

REMARKS ON THE FINAL COMBINATIONS, 
er, ez, ai, ais, ait, aient, ect. 

ER, } taken in combination at the end of words, represent 

EZ, > the third vowel sound close (3). Ex. : aimer, avez, 

AI, ) j' aurai. 

AIENT, ) ending the imperfect tense and conditional, represent 

AIT, v the third vowel sound open. (3 3 ) Ex. : j'avazs, 

AIS, ) il wait, ils zvaient. 

ECT, final, =± 3 3 . 

The above rules may be used as if they were without excep- 
tions. 

When the letter r of the termination er is sounded, the sound 
of the e is not so close as that of e in deces, nor so open as that 
of & in the same word. 



REMARKS ON THE FRENCH DIPHTHONGS. 

When two vowel sounds can be uttered easily " by a single 
emission of the voice," they generally form " a diphthong." 
IA forms a diphthong in the word lia and others. 
IA does not form a diphthong in the word cria and others. 

The diphthongs oi, oin, which may be called irregular, are 
placed among the simple syllables. The diphthong oi, which 
sounds as in loi, nearly like ou-a, consists of the 7th and 1st 
vowel sounds, and is the 12th simple syllable. 

The diphthong oin, which sounds as in loin, like ou-in, 
consists of the 7th and 9th vowel sounds, and forms the 13th 
simple syllable. 

Some sound oi like oa in French 5 + 1, and oin like o-in 
5 + 9. 

All the other diphthongs may be called regular. They can 
be easily read by any person perfectly acquainted with the 
various ways of representing the vowel sounds. Ex. : 

4-1 4-5 4-2 2 7-3 7 - 3 3 6-1 G-4 6-8 4-9. 

i-a. i-au. i-eu. ou-ai. ou-aient. u-a. u-i. u-an. i-en. 



PRONUNCIATION. 9 

TABLE II. 

Letters and Combinations of Letters, representing 

THE EIGHTEEN FRENCH CONSONANT SOUNDS, 

OR BEGINNINGS OF THE COMPOUND SYLLABLES. 

B, sounds as in English. 

C, hard before a, o, u, sounds as in English, like Jc. 
C, soft before e, i, y, sounds as in English, like hard s. 

C, when before a consonant, or at the end of words, like Jc. 
9, with a cedilla under it, sounds like s hard. 

Ch, this combination sounds like sh in s7iad, ch in cAaise. 

D, sounds as in English. 

F, sounds as in English. 

G, hard before a, o, u, or a consonant, as g hard in English. 
G, always soft before, e, i, y, sounds like French j. 

Gn, this combination sounds as in the French word ogncrn. 

H, said to be " mute," or " aspirate," is never sounded. 

J, sounds as inje, very nearly like 5 in pleasure. 

K, sounds as in English. 

L, sounds as in English, when not " liquid" 

L, " liquid" (" I mouille") and its equivalents ill, or 11, or il, 

sound as in the French words AvriZ, aille, fiZZe, seraiZ. 
M, sounds as in English, ) when not taken in combination with 
N, sounds as in English, ) the preceding letter or letters. 
P, sounds as in English. 
Ph, this combination is equivalent to f. 
Q, and the combination qu, as in English, like Jc. 
R, as in English, but more forcibly articulated. 
S, hard at the beginning of words, or when doubled, like s in 

sad. 
S, soft when between two vowels, sounds like z. 



10 PRONUNCIATION. 

T, and the combination th, as t in English. 

V, as in English. 

W, sounds like v, or like the combination ou, 7th vowel sounJ. 

X, as in English, like ks, k, gz, s, z. 

Z, as in English. 



REMARKS ON CONSONANTS AND CONSONANT SOUNDS. 

Ch, are sometimes equivalent to k, as in echo. 

Ch = k when followed by a consonant, Ex. : Christ. 

G, in English, is sometimes hard before e, i, y, as in get, gid~ 
dy, &c. ; but g in French is always soft, and equivalent to 
the French j, or s in pleasure, when before e, i, y. 

Ge, are often taken in combination to represent the soft sound 
of g, as in jugea, mangea, mangeons. 

Gn, the sound of the combination gn is that of gn in ognon, 
nearly that of ni, as some assert, in the English word 
onion. 

Gn, are sometimes sounded separately. Ex. : ma^-wats, the g 
and the n having then each its proper sound. 

Gu, are most generally taken in combination to represent the 
hard sound of g as in glad. Ex. : fatigue. 

Gu, are sometimes sounded separately. Ex. : aiguiser, aiguille. 

H, " mute," is entirely null. Ex. : Vhomme, Vhero'ine, inhu- 
main. 

H, " aspirate," is not sounded ; it only serves to prevent the eli- 
sion of the preceding vowel, and the union of the preced- 
ing consonant with the vowel which follows A. Ex. : le 
her os, la harpe. 

111. The sound of this combination which the French call the 
sound of 1 " mouille," (liquid 1,) is that which is heard after 
the sound of a in the French word ail, nearly that of gl 
as some assert, in the word Seraglio. 



PRONUNCIATION. 11 

Tb* " liquid" sound of Z is also represented by 11, il, Z. 

ILI at the beginning of words are never taken in combination ; 
they are sounded separately. Ex. : illustre. 
S )me persons use, instead of the sound of liquid Z, a sound 

appioaching that of i very long, or y in year. Ex. : for fille 

they say fi-ye. 

M of N, when final, or found before another consonant, forms 
with the preceding vowel or vowels, a combination repre- 
senting the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, or 13th simple syllable. 

Qu, are most generally taken as a combination representing the 
sound of &; the u that comes after q sometimes receives its 
proper sound, as in questeur, and in very few words is 
equivalent to ou, as in quadrupede. 

R, must be much more strongly articulated than in English, 
particularly in the middle and at the end of words. 

R is sounded in the termination ert, and in the termination of 
verbs ers, ir, oir ; but er ending a verb = e. 

R generally is not sounded in the plural termination ers of nouns 
and adjectives, which have er in the singular number. 
U is silent in volontiers. 

S, between two vowels, with very few exceptions, sounds like z. 

S, afier or before a consonant, is hard, as in sad. 

S S are equivalent to s hard, assistant. 

T, in the terminations of nouns tion, tions, and in some other 
cases, is equivalent to s hard. Ex. : portion, patient, mi- 
nutie, &c, and derivatives. 

Th, always sound like t. Ex. : the, theologie. 

Of two similar consonants in succession, only one in general 

is sounded : so bb=b, dd=d, lT=f, cca = ca, cco=co, ccu = cu, 

gga=ga; but cce = kse, cci=ksi, gge=gje, &c, because c and 

g are h ird before a consonant, and soft before e, i, y. Ex.: acces. 
Fin v consonants generally, are not sounded before a word 

beginrr lg with a consonant, nor at the end of a phrase, or 

membei of a phrase, except c,f, I, r. 

R is i he only consonant to be sounded at the end of verbs. 



12 PRONUNCIATION. 

Therefore do not sound c, cs, ds, ps, s, t, x, in vainc, vaincs, 
prends, romps, as, bat, peuor; but sound R in avoir, punir, de- 
voir, sers, sert, perd, fort, meurs, &c. R is not to be sounded 
in er ending the verbs of the first conjugation. Ex. : donner, 
parler, &c. Er in this case = e. 

The consonants are not so strongly sounded in French as in 
English, except r. 

A consonant sound is the beginning, never the end of a com- 
pound syllable. 

When a consonant is sounded before another consonant, or 
at the end of a word, which is before another word beginning 
with a consonant, it may be considered as forming a compound 
syllable with the very faint sound of e, as heard at the end of 
preneuse ; ex. : g'lad', a-r'b're, i-1', voud'riez. This being ad- 
mitted, the largest possible number of compound syllables in 
French would only be 18 times 13, or 234 ; because the begin- 
ning of a compound syllable can only be one of the 18 conso- 
nant sounds, and the termination must be one of the 13 simple 
syllables. The whole number of vocal syllables would conse- 
quently be 247, which are exhibited in table III. (page 13.) 
This is mentioned only to show that the difficulty of reading 
French, when a proper method is used, is not so great as some 
imagine. 

A single glance at page 13, will convince any one of the 
facility with which the pronunciation of all the syllables, and 
consequently of all the words of the French language, can be 
acquired, when the elementary sounds, and the various ways 
of representing them, exhibited in tables I. and II., have once 
been mastered. 



PRONUNCIATION. 



13 



TABLE III. 

ALL THE SYLLABLES OF THE FRENCH 
LANGUAGE. 

The Simple Syllables. 



1 


2 


3 


4 


5 


6 


7 


8 


9 


10 


11 


12 


13 


a 


e 


e 


i 


o 


u 


Oil 


an 


in 


on 


un 


oi 


oin 



The Compound Syllables* 



ba 


be 


be 


bi 


bo 


bu 


bou 


ban 


bin 


bon 


bun 


boi 


boin 


ca 


— 


— 


— 


CO 


cu 


cou 


can 


— 


con 


cun 


coi 


coin 


ca 


ce 


ce 


ci 


CO 


cu 


cmt 


can 


cin 


gon 


cun 


coi 


— 


cha 


che 


che 


chi 


cho 


chu 


chou 


chan 


chin 


chon 


chun 


choi 


— 


da 


de 


de 


di 


do 


du 


dou 


dan 


din 


don 


dun 


doi 


doin 


fa 


fe 


fe 


fi 


fo 


fa 


fou 


fan 


fin 


fon 


fun 


foi 


foin 


ga 


gue 


gue 


gui 


g° 


g u 


gou 


gan 


guin gon 


gun 


goi 


goin 


gea 


g e 


g'* 


g* 


geo 


— 


— 


gean 


gin 


geon 


— 


geoi 


— 


gna 


gne 


gne 


gni 


gno 


gnu 


gnou gnan gnin gnon gnun 


gnoi 


— 


ha 


he 


he 


hi 


ho 


hu 


hou 


han 


hin 


hon 


hun 


hoi 


hoin 


j a 


i« 


ft 


P 


jo 


ju 


jou 


jan 


jin 


jon 


jun 


joi 


join 


ka 


ke 


ke 


ki 


ko 


ku 


kou 


kan 


kin 


kon 


kun 


koi 


koi n 


la 


le 


le 


li 


lo 


lu 


lou 


Ian 


lin 


Ion 


lun 


loi 


loi 11 


ilia 


Me 


Me 


Mi 


Mo 


Mu 


illou 


Ulan 


illin 


illon 


illun 


illoi 


— 


ma 


me 


me 


mi 


mo 


mu 


mou 


man 


min 


mon 


mun 


moi 


moin 


na 


ne 


ne 


ni 


no 


nu 


nou 


nan 


nin 


non 


nun 


noi 


noin 


pa 


pe 


pe 


Pi 


po 


pu 


pou 


pan 


pin 


pon 


pun 


poi 


poin 


qua 


que 


que 


qui 


quo 


qu'u 


qu } ou 


quan 


quin 


quon 


qu'un 


quoi 


— 


ra 


re 


re 


ri 


TO 


ru 


rou 


ran 


rin 


ron 


run 


roi 


roin 


sa 


se 


se 


si 


so 


su 


sou 


san 


sin 


son 


sun 


soi 


soin 


ta 


te 


te 


ti 


to 


tu 


tou 


tan 


tin 


ton 


tun 


toi 


toin 


va 


ve 


ve 


vi 


vo 


vu 


vou 


van 


vin 


von 


vun 


voi 


voi n 


xa 


xe 


xe 


xi 


xo 


xu 


xou 


xan 


xin 


xon 


xun 


xoi 


xoin 


za 


ze 


ze 


zi 


zo 


zu 


zou 


zan 


zin 


zon 


zun 


zoi 


zoin 



ICT Particular attention must be given to the lines printed in italics. 

For the letters and combinations of letters presented in this table, sub- 
stitute, occasionally, their equivalents, or other letters representing the 
same sounds. Ex.: ai for i; au for o: ph for/, &c. 
2 



14 PRONUNCIATION. 

REMARKS ON TABLE III. 

The figures 1, 2, 3, &c, refer to the simple syllables, and 
must recall their sounds, as well as all their equivalents, or 
various ways of representing them. — Pages 3 and 4. 

Each letter, or combination of letters, representing a conso- 
nant sound, and forming the beginning of each compound sylla- 
ble, in said table, must be sounded agreeably to the directions 
given. — Pages 9, 10, and 11. 

In requiring from the pupil the frequent repetition of all the 
syllables, the teacher must be careful to familiarize him with the 
various modifications of pronunciation, of which some of them 
are susceptible. The attainment of this desideratum will be 
facilitated by directions like the following : — Utter all the sylla- 
bles of the first vertical column, (Table III,) sounding the a as 
in ma> then as a in bas. Read the second column, supposing 
the e to be followed by two consonants, for instance, rr, bs, rn> 
in which case e will be sounded nearly like e in deeds. Read 
the same column, be ce, de, &c, supposing the e to be followed 
by two consonants, the second of which is r, for instance, tr, br, 
pr, &c, in which case e will represent the second vowel sound 
i>hort, &c. 

FOR DIVIDING WORDS INTO SYLLABLES, 
Attend to the following Rules and Remarks. 
A Simple Syllable consists of one vowel sound, or one of 
the irregular diphthongs, oi, oin. (See Table I.) 

A Compound Syllable consists of either one, or two, or 
three, or even four consonant sounds prefixed to one of the thir- 
teen simple syllables. Ex. : ra, stra, bstra. As was observed 
before, (page 12,) a consonant sounded before another conso- 
nant, might be considered as forming a compound syllable with 
the second vowel sound very faint. 

The beginning of a compound syllable must be a consonant 
sound, although it may be a vowel letter, i for instance, since 
ill may be taken in combination to represent the consonant 
sound of " liquid Z." 



PRONUNCIATION. 15 

The end of a compound syllable must always be a vowel 
sound, although it may be a consonant letter, since the combina- 
tions an, in, on, un, and others, are used to represent vowel 
sounds. (No exception whatever.) 

A final consonant which is not silent forms, as already stated, 
a compound syllable with the second vowel sound very faint. 
Soji-l has two syllables, like fi-le* 

M, or N, or any other consonant between two vowels, always 
belongs to the following vowel or vowels, with which it forms 
a compound syllable. Ex. : a-mi. 

M, or N, when final, or followed by another different conso- 
nant, is taken with the preceding vowel or vowels, with which 
it forms a combination representing, either the 8th, 9th, 10th, 
11th, or 13th, simple syllable, Ex. : en-fin ; lam-pe ; loin-tain ; 
in-stru-ment. 

M M, and N N, between two vowels, are equivalent to one 
m or one n 9 and form a compound syllable with the following 
letter, or combination of letters. 

The letters m and n, when found in succession, in the same 
word, have each its proper sound. Ex. : ca-lo-mnie. 

Division of aill, euill, eill, otjill, into Syllables. 

When, in the same word, the following letters aill, euill, eill, 
ouill, are found in succession, a represents the 1st simple sylla- 
ble, eu the 2d, e the 3d, and ou the 7th, whilst ill are taken in 
combination to represent the sound of " liquid 1," then aill == 
1 + 17, euill = 2 2 -f 17, eill = 3 3 + 17, ouill = 7 + 17. 

Examples : vo-la-ille ; feu-ille ; ve-ille ; fou-ille. 

Division of ail, euil, eil, ouil, ails, final. 

IL, and Us at the end of words are taken in combination to 
represent the sound of "liquid 1,' } when preceded by a, eu, 



16 PRONUNCIATION. 

e, or ou, which then represent, viz : a the 1st, eu the 2d, e the 
3d, ou the 7th vowel sound or simple syllable. 
Examples : a-il ; seu-il ; so-le-il ; fe-nou-il. 

Division of cueil, gueil, into Syllables. 

When the letters cueil, gueil, cueill, gueill, are found in 
succession in the same word, u is silent, and only serves to 
indicate that c and g are hard ; whilst e represents the 2d vowel 
sound long, that of eu, and il or ill are taken in combination to 
represent the sound of " liquid Z." 

Examples: re-cue-il ; cue-illi-r ; o-rgue-il ; a-ccue-il. 



ACCENT OR STRESS OF THE VOICE. 

To pronounce a word well, it is not sufficient to give each let- 
ter, or combination of letters, its proper sound, and to make an 
accurate division of its syllables ; it is also very important to 
place the stress of the voice on that syllable which ought to re- 
ceive it. 

The best rule that can be proposed to enable the student to 
place the stress of the voice properly, is the following : 

The stress of the voice must be placed on the last syllable of 
every French word. Ex. : cZi^c-rent, fa-ci-li-TA, co-mment. 

It is hardly necessary to mention, as an exception, that when 
a word ends in e, es, or ent, representing the 2d vowel sound 
very faint, or " whispered," the stress is on the preceding sylla- 
ble. Ex. : pre-NEU-se ; fa-ci-le. 

The stress of the voice or accent, which is much weaker in 
French than in English, is hardly ever mentioned by the teach- 
ers of French : and some persons go so far as to assert, that all 
the syllables of a French word are pronounced with the same 
stress ; but this assertion is altogether unfounded. A French 
person but little advanced in English, may be observed always 
to place the stress of the voice on the last syllable of every 



PRONUNCIATION. 17 

English word, because he is accustomed to do the same in his 
own language. An English person but little acquainted with 
French, will be led by habit, and the analogy of his own tongue, 
to accent French words inaccurately. In the phrase comment 
vous portez-vous ? for instance, he will place the stress very 
forcibly at the beginning of the words comm-c^ and port-cz. 
He will accent the first syllable of the words DiFF-erent, off- 
icier, AN-maZ, quant-i^, vovL-ez-vous? AV-ez-vous? &c, 
while the French accent the last. 

Placing the stress of the voice inaccurately is as ridiculous, 
as intolerable in one language as in the other. The student, in 
order to avoid accenting French words as he would accent Eng- 
lish words, must practise very frequently the exercise of dividing 
words into syllables, and carefully apply the rule — Place the 
stress of the voice on the last syllable. 



SUPPRESSION OF THE SECOND VOWEL SOUND. 

In conversation and familiar reading, suppress, or rather pro- 
nounce very faintly, or whisper the second vowel sound short, 
where you can whisper it easily, when euphony, or emphasis 
does not forbid it — as the last e of preneuse, which is marked 2 . 

Never whisper the 2d vowel sound when it is represented by 
eu, eu, eue, eues. 

Do not whisper the second vowel sound twice in succession : 
so, do not say : Je rC V sais pas ; say : Je vl le sais pas. 

Do not whisper the second vowel sound after two consonants 
sounded : so, do not say : Gouvern'ment for gonvernement. 

Do not whisper the second vowel sound at the beginning of a 
phrase, or member of a phrase: so, do not say : T ne sais pas , 
say : Je rC sais pas. 

It is particularly recommended to foreigners to " whisper" the 
second vowel sound when they can do it easily, because the 
natives of France, even those who boast of their pronunciation, 
2* 



1 8 PRONUNCIATION. 

are in the habit of whispering it ; and it is obvious, that, if both 
natives and foreigners pronounce in the same manner, they will 
understand each other much more readily. 



SUPPRESSION OF THE SOUND OF L, LS. 

A great majority of the French are also in the habit of sup- 
pressing in common conversation the sound of I in the pronouns 
il, Us, quelque, cela, and in elle, elles followed by ne : so, instead 
of il salt, elle ne salt, quelque chose, quelqv? un, cela, &c, they 
often say i'sait, tfrfsait, que^qu 9 chose, que'qii'un, ca. Such 
suppressions are universally condemned, but as they are uni- 
versally made, foreigners must be taught to understand them. 



CONNEXION OF WORDS. 

A final consonant is generally pronounced with the vowel 
sound which begins the next word ; but this connexion must not 
take place ; first, when there is a pause between the two words, 
indicated by punctuation or by the sense ; secondly, when the 
next word begins with h aspirate ; thirdly, when the ear might 
be unpleasantly affected by such a connexion. 

When d, f, g, s, x, are to be joined to the vowel which 
begins the next word, d sounds like t,f like v, g like k, s like z, 
x like z. 

Ex. : grand^,homme ; sang w et eau ; neuf^ans ; les^os ; 
aux^ eaux. 



TONES AND INFLECTIONS. 

Whoever wishes to pronounce French with the tones and 
inflections which belong to that language, must frequently and 
very attentively listen to those who speak and read it properly, 
and then try to imitate them closely. No better direction can 
be given on the subject. 



PRONUNCIATION. 19 

KEY TO THE PRONUNCIATION OF PAGE 20, 

And Signs for the Figured Exercises. 

The numeral signs, 1,2,3, 4, &e., recall the thirteen simple 
syllables, or the vowel sounds found in the standard words, ma, 
has, pre-neuse, &c, page 3. 

14, recalls the sound of ch as in chaise, sh in shad. 

15, recalls the sound of French j 9 of s in pleasure. 

16, recalls the sound of gn, as in the French word ognon. 

17, recalls the sound of u I mouille" as in a-il. 

2 , indicates the " whispering" of the 2d vowel sound short. 

°, indicates the total nullity of a letter. 

w, the union of a final consonant with the next vowel sound. 

-, between two figures, indicates the union of two vowel sounds 
into a diphthong. 

+ , indicates that, contrary to rules, a consonant is to be 
sounded, or that two consonants alike are both to be articulated. 

A consonant placed over another consonant, or over a combi- 
nation of letters, indicates the sound of either. 

A consonant over which there is no mark, must be sounded 
as in English, except where it is to be taken in combination with 
the preceding letter, or when some rule requires a different 
articulation. 

In page 20, a consonant before which a hyphen is placed must 
be sounded. Ex. : co-r, a-ve-c. In the same page, a final con- 
sonant which is not separated from the preceding vowel by a 
hyphen, is not to be sounded, for in such a case it is taken in 
combination with that vowel. Ex. : est, in-stru-me7tf, voix. 



A great deal more could be said on the subject of pronuncia- 
tion, but it would only serve to perplex and mislead the student. 
The teacher must explain the difficulties as they occur. 



20 PRONUNCIATION. 

EXAMPLE OF SYLLABIC DIVISION, AND FIGURED 

EXERCISES. 

2 5 3 3 1 2 3 3 11 9 6 

(See Page 24.) Le co-r des^A-lpes est^un in-stru- 

8 3 3 13 35 2 6 2 4 4-3 k4 5 2 2 

ment fait^a-ve-c l'e-co-rce du ce-ri-si-er, qui co-mme le 

5 2 12 3 3 1 5 3 3 3 10 1 6 2 8 2 

po-rte-voix, se-rt^a po-rter les sons^a u-ne gran-de 

4 8 2 k 8 3 s 3 3 4-3 3 3 3 -4-10 3 3 -4-10 6 
di-stan-ce. Quand les de-rni-ers rav-ons (rai-i-ons) du 

5 3 3 17 5 2 2 5 3 3 3 3 1 2 2 V 2 k6 
so-le-il do-rent le so-mmet des^A-lpes, le pa-tre qui 

1 4 2 8 12 2 6 3 2 3 2 3 3 10 1 2 8 
ha-bi-te Ten-droit le plus e-le-ve de ces mon-ta-gnes prend 

10 5 3 4 1 5 5 2 12 3 4 12 2 3 16 2 2 

son co-r, et crie a hau-te voix : Be-ni soit le Sei-gneu-r ! 

5 5 4 5 5 4 13 3 8 8 6 3 3 l 1 2 12 9 

Au-ssi-tot qu'i-l a e-te en-ten-du, les pa-tres voi-sins 
k4 2 2 2 1 1 2 3 3 3 32 3 3 5 5 3 3 

qui-ttent leu-rs ca-ba-nes, et re-pe-tent ces mots. Les 

10 6 2 6 4-2 2 4 6 2 1 7 3 3 3k5 5 

sons du-rent plu-si-eu-rs mi-nu-tes, ca-r tous les^e-chos, 
3 7 2 3 3 5 2 3 3 5 14 3 3 3 3 2 2 10 2 
et tou-tes les gro-ttes des ro-chers re-pe-tent le nom de 

4-2 2 
Di-eu. — 

Words of the Text which form exceptions to the Preceding Rules. 

3 O -J- o ° + o o o 

sens. compter. mer. fi/s. fiZs. rriorc-sieur. aout. 
2 8 ++62 o 

faisait. ennui. Termosiris. fer. eu. dessous. condamner. 

+ + + + 
fusiZ. Minos, dot. i-T/wno-le-rai. blancs. automne. - 

+ 2 +2 5 g 

lis. bienfaisant. helas. ressource. poignard. second. 

o 2 6 1 +2 

che/s-d'oeuvre. fazsant. eut. femme. Arcesius. f<z/sant. 

2_t L oo o o o 

dessus. erreur. cle/. clefs. boeu/s. oeii/s. nerfs. 

+ + 9 + 8 ° ° 

mourra. rncntor. magister. poon, bari/. persi/. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



The first, unadvertised edition of this little work, consisting 
of one thousand copies, having been exhausted in a short time, 
and its usefulness amply tested, a new and improved edition of 
it is now offered to the public. It forms the first number of a 
series of books, intended shortly to be published by the author, 
with a view to facilitate the prosecution of a plan which twenty 
years'' experience has demonstrated to be eminently advantage- 
ous, inasmuch as it is well calculated to procure simultaneously 
the following desiderata, viz. : the prompt and thorough master- 
ing of the French language for all purposes ; the acquisition, 
through the medium of French and English, of useful know- 
ledge in every department, and efficient means of promoting 
mental discipline. 

A new and improved edition of another little work, the first 
of which, although unadvertised, was likewise very promptly 
disposed of, is published at the same time, under the following 
title — THE FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT — and 
forms the second number of the said series. It is in some mea- 
sure an almost indispensable companion to " FIRST LESSONS 
IN FRENCH." It will be found highly convenient and service- 
able not only to beginners, but to those who, having already 
made considerable progress in French, may wish to review 
practically and rapidly the most essential principles of that lan- 
guage. 

The other numbers of C. Picot's series of books will, be pub- 
lished as soon as possible. 

(22) 



SELECT PIEGES 

SENTENCES, COLLOQUIAL PHRASES, 

AND 

WORDS IN GENERAL USE, 

ARRANGED 

FOR DOUBLE TRANSLATION, 

FROM FRENCH INTO ENGLISH, 

AND 

FROM ENGLISH INTO FRENCH. 

C23) 



24 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

LE COR DES ALPES. 

1 Le cor des Alpes | est un instrument [ fait avec 

2 l'ecorce du cerisier, | qui, | comme le porte-voix, 

3 sert a porter les sons | a une grande distance. 

4 Quand les derniers rayons | du soleil | dorent 

5 le sommet des Alpes, | le patre qui habite 

6 l'endroit le plus eleve | de ces montagnes, | prend 

7 son cor, | et crie a haute voix : | Beni soit le Seigneur ! 

8 Aussitot qu'il a ete entendu, | les patres voisins 

9 quittent leurs cabanes, | et repetent ces mots. | Les sons 

10 durent plusieurs minutes, | car tous les echos, | et 

11 toutes les grottes | des rochers | repetent le nom | de Dieu. 

12 Quelle scene ! | Peut-on imaginer | quelque chose 

13 de plus solennel ! | Le profond silence | qui succede, 

14 le spectacle | de ces enormes montagnes | sur lesquelles 

15 la voute des cieux | semble reposer, | tout eleve 

16 l'ame a l'enthousiasme. | — Cependant, | les bergers 

17 plient le genou, | et prient | en plein air, 

18 et bientot apres, | ils se retirent | dans leurs 

19 cabanes, | pour jouir du repos | de l'innocence. 



20 AVANTAGE DE LA RELIGION. 

21 Le triomphe de la Religion, | dit Belisaire, 

22 est de consoler l'homme | dans l'heure de 



MODE OF RECITING BY HEART. 

Le cor des Alpes | The Alpine Horn | est un instrument | is 
an instrument, &c, or The Alpine Horn | Le cor des Alpes | 
is an instrument | est un instrument. If the pupil is only re- 
quested to translate, he must give the French, when looking on 
the English, or the English, when looking on the French. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 25 



THE ALPINE HORN. 



1 The Alpine Horn | is an instrument | made with 

2 the bark of the cherry tree, j which, | like a speaking trump- 

3 is used to convey sounds | to a great distance. [et, 

4 When the last rays | of the sun | gild 

5 the summit of the Alps, | the shepherd who dwells on 

6 the most elevated spot | of these mountains, | takes 

7 his horn, | and calls aloud : | Blessed be the Lord ! 

8 As soon as he has been heard, | the neighbouring shepherds 

9 leave their huts, | and repeat those words. | The sounds 

10 last several minutes, | for all the echoes, | and 

11 all the grottos | of the rocks | repeat the name | of God. 

12 What a scene! | Can one imagine | anything 

13 more solemn? | The profound silence [ that succeeds, 

14 the spectacle | of these enormous mountains | on which 

15 the vault of heaven j seems to rest, | every thing raises 

16 the soul to enthusiasm. | — In the meanwhile | the shepherds 

17 bend their knees, | and pray | in the open air, 

18 and soon after, | they retire | into their 

19 huts, | to enjoy the repose [ of innocence. 



20 ADVANTAGE OF RELIGION. 

21 The triumph of Religion, | said Belisarius, 

22 is to comfort man I in the hour of 



A lesson will consist of a certain number of lines to be 
learned by heart in French and English, or translated correctly, 
without hesitation, from one language into the other, but much 
more frequently from English into French. The pupil must not 
learn a lesson before he is able to pronounce it as perfectly as 
his teacher. 
3 



26 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 l'adversite, | et de meler | les douceurs du plaisir 

2 dans la coupe | qui contient [ les amertumes 

3 de la vie. | Qui l'eprouve | mieux que moi? | Accable 

4 de vieillesse, | prive de la vue, [ sans amis, 

5 abandonne a moi-merne, [ ne voyant devant moi que 

6 la douleur | et la tombe ; | si je perdais 

7 1'esperance [ que j'ai placee | dans le ciel, 

8 que me resterait-il ? | Le desespoir. [ L'homme de bien 

9 est avec Dieu, | il est assure | que Dieu Paime ; 

10 ce sentiment secret | lui donne de la force, 

11 et le remplit de joie | au milieu de ses afflictions. 



12 LA TORTUE ET LES DEUX CANARDS. 

13 Une tortue | lasse d'etre | toujours enfermee 

14 dans son ecaille, ( prit la resolution | de voyager 

15 pour voir diffe rents pays, j et pour connaitre 

16 les mceurs des habitants. | Elle communiqua 

17 son dessein | a deux canards, f Commere, 

18 lui dirent-ils, | nous pouvons vous satisfaire; 

19 nous vous porterons | par Pair [ en Amerique : 

20 vous verrez | dans votre passage | plusieurs royaumes 

21 et plusieurs republiques ; | vous remarquerez 

22 les mceurs [ des differents peuples qui 

23 les habitent — | Que faut-il que je fasse? — 

24 Vous n'avez qu'a tenir | ce baton | par le milieu 

25 dans votre bouche, | et chacun de nous 

26 en prendra un bout. | — De tout mon cceur; 

27 cela me parait | tres-aise, | dit la tortue. — 

28 Gardez-vous bien de | lacher prise. | — Ne craignez pas, 

29 j'y prendrai garde. | — Tenez bien le baton. — 

30 Je le tiens, | partons | — lis partent, tortue, 

31 canards et baton. | lis n'eurent pas vole 

32 tres-haut, | qu'un corbeau | rencontrant les voyageurs 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH, 27 

1 adversity, | and to mingle j the sweets of pleasure 

2 in the cup { which contains j the bitterness 

3 of life. | Who experiences it | better than I ? | Overwhelmed 

4 with old age, j deprived of sight, j without friends, 

5 abandoned to myself, | seeing before me -only 

6 affliction, j and the grave ; j if I lost 

7 the hope j which I have placed | in heaven, 

8 what would remain to me? ] Despair. | The good man 

9 is with God, | he feels assured | that God loves him; 

10 this consciousness j gives him strength, 

11 and fills him with joy | in the midst of his affliction. 



12 THE TORTOISE AND THE TWO DUCKS. 

13 A tortoise, | weary of being | always shut up 

14 in her shell, | took the resolution | to travel 

15 to see different countries, j and to know 

16 the manners of the inhabitants. | She communicated 

17 her design | to two ducks. | Gossip, 

18 said they to her, | we can satisfy you ; 

19 we will carry you | through the air | to America: 

20 you will see | in your passage | several kingdoms 

21 and several republics ; j you will remark 

22 the manners | of the different people who 

23 inhabit them. | — What must I do? — 

24 You have only to hold | this stick | by the middle, 

25 in your mouth, | and each of us 

26 will take an end. | — With all my heart ; 

27 this appears to me | very easy, | said the tortoise. — 

28 Be sure not j to let go your hold. | — Fear not, 

29 I will take care. | — Hold the stick well. — 

30 I hold it, | let us set out. | — They set out, tortoise, 

31 ducks and stick. | They had not flown 

32 very high, | when a raven | meeting the travellers 



28 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 demanda aux canards | ce qu' ils portaient. 

2 — La reine des tortues. | La reine des tortues ! 

3 — Vraiment oui, | je la suis, | repliqua le sot animal ; 

4 et en repliquant, | elle lacha le baton ; | et 

5 tombant sur un rocher, | elle fut mise en pieces. 



6 HfiROISME. 

7 Un capitaine Hollandais | nomme Schaffelaar 

8 occupait la forteresse | de Barnevelt : 

9 ii fut assiege | et somme de se rendre, | mais 

10 il ne voulut capituler que | lorsque la breche 

11 fut faite ; | alors il consentit | a se rendre. 

12 Le premier article | de la capitulation | exigeait que 

13 le capitaine | fut jete | du haut de la tour, 

14 ce qui excita j l'indignation des.assieges, | qui 

15 jure rent tous | de mourir | plutot que d'acceder 

16 a une telle condition ; | mais le genereux SchafTelaar 

17 grimpant | sur un des creneaux, | leur cria ; 

18 " Mes amis, | il faut que je meure | un jour, J et 

19 je n'aurai jamais | une occasion de mourir 

20 plus glorieusement, | puisque | je vous sauve tous 

21 par ma mort." | Ay ant dit ces mots, | il 

22 se precipita | du haut de la tour. 



23 LES SINGES.— FABLE. 

24 Un navire | charge d'un grand nombre | de singes 

25 et de guenons | venait d'arriver | dans un port : | le debit 

26 de cette cargaison | etait sur, | car, qui est-ce qui n'aime pas 

27 les singeries ? | Les negociants | allerent a la ville 

28 pour annoncer leur marchandise, | et les matelots 

29 flrent de meme | pour boire | et se rejouir. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 29 

1 asked the ducks | what they carried.— 

2 — The queen of tortoises. | — The queen of tortoises ! 

3 Yes indeed, | I am, j replied the foolish animal ; 

4 and in replying, j she let go the stick ; | and 

5 falling on a rock, J she was dashed to pieces. 



6 HEROISM. 

7 A Dutch captain | named Schaffelaar 

8 occupied the fortress | of Barnevelt : 

9 he was besieged | and summoned to surrender, | but 

10 he would capitulate only | when a breach 

11 was made; j then he consented j to surrender. 

12 The first article | of the capitulation | required that 

1 3 the captain | should be thrown | from the top of the tower, 

14 which excited j the indignation of the besieged, j who 

15 swore all | to die | rather than accede 

16 to such a condition ; | but the generous Schaffelaar 

17 climbing | to one of the battlements, | cried out to them : 

18 "Friends, | I must die j one day, | and 

19 I shall never have | an opportunity of dying 

20 more gloriously, | since | I save you all 

21 by my death." | Having said these words, | he 

22 precipitated himself | from the top of the tower. 



23 THE APES.— A FABLE. 

24 A ship | laden with a great number | of monkeys 

25 and she-apes | had just arrived | in a port : | the sale 

26 of this cargo | was sure, | for, who does not like 

27 apish tricks? | The merchants | went to the city, 

28 to announce their merchandise, | and the sailors 

29 did the same, | to drink | and enjoy themselves. 

3* 



30 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 Personne ne resta | dans le vaisseau | que les singes. 

2 Dans ces circonstances, | un vieux magot | se leva 

3 pour haranguer ses camarades ; | — Je medite un bon tour, 

4 dit-il gravement ; | voici une occasion favorable 

5 de nous delivrer | de Pesclavage ; 

6 ne la laissons pas echapper ,* | si vous aimez la liberte, 

7 hatons notre retour. | — J' ai vecu | parmi les hommes ; 

8 je sais, | comme ils nous traitent : | ils nous lient 

9 comme des esclaves j par le milieu | du corps, | et nous font 

10 mille avanies. | Je sais gouverner | un vaisseau; 

11 si vous voulez, | je serai le pilote | et vous serez matelots. 

12 Tous s'ecrierent: | Partons. [ Liberte! | Liberte! 

13 Les singes demarrent | aussitot ; | ils mettent a la voile; 

14 le vent les favorise. | — A peine eurent-ils quitte 

15 le bord | que le pilote j leur dit : | Messieurs, un orage 

16 nous menace, | mais ne craignez pas : j travail lez, et 

17 comptez | sur mon adresse. | II disait vrai | quant a Forage. 

18 A l'instant les riots mugissent | et menacent d'engloutir 

19 le nouveau pilote | et les matelots : | tout Pequipage 

20 est consterne : | qui ne le serait pas | en pareilles 

21 conjonctures ? | Enfin le vaisseau | est brise contre 

22 un rocher, | et voila le pilote, | les matelots, et 

23 les singes | au fond de la mer. 



24 LE SOLDAT MOURANT. 

25 Dans la chaleur | de la bataille | de Nerwinde, 

26 gagnee par les Francais, | le marechal de Luxembourg, 

27 qui les commandait, | voyant un soldat aux gardes, 

28 qui quittait son corps, | lui dit | d'un ton menacant : 

29 Ou vas-tu ? | — Monseigneur, | lui dit lc soldat, 

30 en ouvrant son habit, | pour faire voir | sa blessure, 

31 je vais mourir j a quelques pas d'ici, | heureux d'avoir 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 31 

1 No one remained | in the vessel | but the monkeys. 

2 In these circumstances, | an old baboon | got up 

3 to harangue his comrades ; | I meditate a good trick, 

4 said he gravely ; | this is a favourable opportunity 

5 to deliver ourselves | from slavery ; 

6 we must not let it slip ; | iif you love freedom, 

7 let us hasten our return. | — I have lived | among men ; 

8 I know | how they treat us : | they tie us 

9 like slaves | in the middle | of the body, | and do us 

10 a thousand injuries. | I know how to steer | a vessel ; 

11 if you wish, | I shall be the pilot, | and you will be sailors. 

12 Ail cried out: | Let us go. | Freedom ! | Freedom ! 

13 The apes unmoor | immediately ; | they set sail; 

14 the wind favours them. | — Scarcely had they quitted 

15 the shore | when the pilot | told them: | Gentlemen, a storm 

16 threatens us, | but fear not ; | work, and 

17 rely j upon my skill. | He said right | as to the storm. 

18 Instantly the waves roar, | and threaten to swallow up 

19 the new pilot j and the sailors : | all the crew 

20 is affrighted : | who would not be so | in such 

21 conjunctures ? | At last the vessel | is dashed against 

22 a rock, | and behold the pilot, | the sailors, and 

23 the monkeys | at the bottom of the sea. 



24 THE DYING SOLDIER. 

25 In the heat | of the battle | of Nerwinde, 

26 won by the French, | marshal Luxemburgh, 

27 who commanded them, | seeing a soldier of the guards 

28 quitting his corps, | said to him | in a threatening tone: 

29 Where dost thou go? | — My lord, | said the soldier to him, 

30 opening his coat | to show | his wound, 

31 I am going to die | a few paces from here, | happy to have 



32 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 expose | ma vie | pour ma patrie, | et d 'avoir 

2 combattu | sous un aussi grand general | que vous. 



3 L'ELEPHANT.— FABLE. 

4 Un elephant | s'etait rendu utile | dans les batailles 

5 de Wishnou, | un des prineipaux dieux | des Indiens* 

6 Ce dieu lui ordonna | de former un souhait, | promettant 

7 qu'il serait satisfait | sur-le-champ. I — L'elephant 

8 remereia a genoux son bienfaiteur, | et souhaita 

9 d'etre doue | de la raison | et des facultes de l'homme. 

10 Wishnou fut fache | d'entendre | cette folle demande, 

11 et chercha | a le dissuader | de son ambition deplacee; 

12 mais ce fut en vain, | et il accorda | ce qu'il demandait. 

13 L'elephant s'en alia | charme de | sa nouvelle acquisition; 

14 et quoique | son corps retint | son ancienne forme, 

15 il trouva ses passions | et ses gouts | entierement changes. 

16 II considera d'abord | qu'il serait | non seulement 

17 plus agreable, | mais aussi | bienseant 

18 de porter des habits; | malheureusement | il ne pouvait 

19 en faire lui-meme, | et il n'avait pas | l'usage de la parole 

20 pour en demander : | ce fut | la premiere fois 

21 qu'il sentit | une peine reelle. | II s'aper^ut bientot 

22 que les hommes | etaient nourris | plus delicatement 

23 que lui ; | il commenca done | a se degouter de 

24 sa nourriture ordinaire, | et soupira apres 

25 les friandises | qui ornent les tables | des princes ; 

26 mais il ne put les obtenir, | car il lui etait impossible 

27 d'appreter la viande | qu'il se procurait. 

28 En un mot, | tous les plaisirs | qui contribuaient 

29 a la felicite | des hommes | ne servaient qu'a le rendre 

30 plus miserable, | se trouvant | entierement prive 

31 de la faculte de jouir. | C'etait ainsi | qu'il passait 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 33 



1 exposed | my life | for my country, j and to have 

2 fought | under so great a general | as you. 



3 THE ELEPHANT.— A FABLE. 

4 An elephant | had made himself useful | in the battles 

5 of Wishnou, | one of the principal gods | of the Indians. 

6 That god ordered him | to form a wish, | promising 

7 that it should be gratified | immediately. | — The elephant 

8 thanked his benefactor on his knees, | and desired 

9 to be endowed | with the reason j and faculties of man. 

10 Wishnou was sorry | to hear | this foolish request, 

11 and tried | to dissuade him | from his misplaced ambition ; 

12 but it was in vain, | and he granted | what he asked. 

13 The elephant went away | charmed with | his new acquisi- 

14 and although | his body retained | its ancient form, [tion ; 

15 he found his passions | and appetites j entirely altered. 

16 He first considered | that it would be | not only 

17 more agreeable, | but also | becoming 

18 to wear clothes; | unfortunately | he could not 

19 make any himself, | and he had not | the use of speech 

20 to ask for some ; | it was | the first time 

21 that he felt | real anxiety. | He soon perceived 

22 that men [ were fed | more delicately 

23 than himself; | he therefore began j to loathe 

24 his usual food, | and longed for 

25 those delicacies | which adorn the tables | of princes ; 

26 but he could not obtain them, | for it was impossible for him 

27 to dress the flesh | which he procured. 

28 In a word, | all the pleasures | which contributed 

29 to the felicity | of mankind, | served only to render him 

30 more miserable, | finding himself | entirely deprived 

31 of the power of enjoyment. | It was thus | that he passed 



34 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 sa vie | dans le mecontentement | et le chagrin, 

2 se detestant lui-meme, | et deplorant | son ambition. 

3 Enfin | son bienfaiteur, Wishnou, 

4 ayant eu compassion | de sa miserable situation, 

5 le rendit j a l'ignorance | et au bonheur | pour 

6 lesquels ] il avait ete originairement forme. 



7 AFFECTION FRATERNELLE. 

8 Le roi de # * * { avait trois fils, | et comme plusieurs 

9 autres peres, j ayant plus d'affeciion [ pour le plus jeune, 

10 quel ques jours | avant sa mort, | il le declara | son 

11 successeur, | a 1' exclusion | de ses freres | — Ce 

12 procede etait { d'autant plus extraordinaire | qu'ii etait 

13 contraire j aux lois du royaume. | — C'est pourquoi 

14 le peuple crut, | qu'apres la mort du roi | il pouvait, 

15 sans acun crime, | elevcr le fils aine ( sur le trone. 

16 Ce dessein fut { universellement approuve; | mais 

17 le nouveau roi, | se rappelant | les dernieres paroles 

18 de son pere, ] rejeta l'offre, j et prenant la couronne, 

19 il la placa J sur la tete de | son plus jeune frere, 

20 declarant publiquement | qu' il y renonc,ait | et qu' il 

21 s'en croyait indigne, | puisqu' il etait exclus j par 

22 le testament de son pere, j et que son pere 

23 ne pouvait pas alors | retracter j ce qu' il avait fait. 

24 Son frere admirant | une action si genereuse, 

25 le conjura instamment | de ne pas s'opposer a 

26 F inclination du peuple | qui desirait | voir le sceptre 

27 entre ses mains. | — II pretendit | que lui seul etait 

28 le successeur legitime | a la couronne | qu' il refusait, 

29 et que leur pere | ne pouvait pas enfreindre | les lois 

30 du royaume ; j qu' il avait ete | aveugle | par sa 

31 tendresse," et qu' enfin | le peuple avait le droit 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 35 

1 his life | in discontent | and sorrow, 

2 detesting himself, | and deploring | his ambition. 

3 At last | his benefactor, Wishnou, 

4 having taken compassion | on his forlorn situation, 

5 restored him | to the ignorance j and the happiness | for 

6 which | he had originally been formed. 



FRATERNAL AFFECTION. 

8 The king of % # * | had three sons, | and like many 

9 other fathers, | having more affection | for the youngest, 

10 some days | before his death, | he declared him | his 

11 successor, | to the exclusion | of his brothers. | This 

12 proceeding was | the more extraordinary | as it was 

13 contrary | to the laws of the kingdom. | - — Therefore, 

14 the people thought | that after the king's death | they might, 

15 without any crime, | raise the eldest son | to the throne. 

16 This design was | universally approved ; | but 

17 the new king, | calling to mind | the last words 

18 of his father, | rejected the offer, | and, taking the crown, 

19 he placed it | on the head of | his youngest brother, 

20 publicly declaring | that he renounced it, | and that he 

21 thought himself unworthy of it, | since he was excluded | by 

22 his father's will, | and that his father 

23 could not then | retract | what he had done. 

24 His brother, admiring | so generous an action, 

25 instantly entreated him | not to oppose 

26 the inclination of the people, | who wished | to see the sceptre 

27 in his hands. | — He urged | that he alone was 

28 the lawful successor | to the crown, | which he refused, 

29 and that their father | could not infringe | the laws 

30 of the kingdom ; | that he had been | blinded | by his 

31 tenderness ; and, at last, that | the people had the right 



36 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 de reclamer l'observance | d'une ancienne loi 

2 qui paraissait bonne, | et qui, | selon lui, 

3 n'aurait pas du etre violee. | Rien cependant 

4 ne put | determiner son frere | a accepter la couronne. 

5 Mais comme | les deux princes s'apercurent | que 

6 la dispute serait | sans fin, | ils se retirerent de 

7 la cour. | Ainsi chacun | ayant vaincu | et ete 

8 vaincu, | ils allerent finir | leurs jours ensemble 

9 dans une solitude tranquille, | et laisserent le 
10 royaume | a leur autre frere. 



11 LE MEUNIER, SON FILS ET L'ANE. 

12 Un meunier | avait un ane | qui lui etait inutile: 

13 il resolut de s'en defaire | a la premiere foire. 

14 Le jour etant venu, | il dit a son fils : | Je veux vendre 

15 maitre Grison ; | nous n'en avons pas besoin : | nos 

16 chevaux | et nos mulets | suffisent pour porter 

17 la farine | et le grain. | — Vous avez raison, | mon 

18 pere, J cet animal | ne travaille pas ; | il ne fait que 

19 braire | et troubler le repos | de nos voisins : si 

20 vous voulez, | je vous accompagnerai | a la foire. 

21 Le pere y consent. | Ils se mettent en marche, | le pere, 

22 le fils et l'ane. | Pour ne pas fatiguer | le baudet, 

23 et pour le faire paraitre | frais, | ils lui lient les pieds, 

24 et le portent | par le moyen | d'une perche | que 

25 chacun tenait | par un bout. | La premiere personne 

26 qui les vit | eclata de rire. | — Pauvres sots ! 

27 Quelle farce jouez vous ? | Le plus stupide des trois 

28 n'est pas celui | que vous portez. | — Vous avez raison, 

29 dit le meunier, | rougissant de sa simplicity, | je 

30 reconnais mon erreur. | A l'instant il delie 

31 la bete | et la conduit | devant lui. | Le baudet 

32 qui aimait a etre porte, | se plaignit | en son patois 



FIRST LESSONS EH FRENCH. 37 

1 to claim the observance | of an ancient law 

2 that seemed good, | and which, | according to him, 

3 ought not to have been violated, j Nothing, however, 

4 could | determine his brother | to accept the crown. 

5 But as | the two princes perceived | that 

6 the dispute would be | endless, | they withdrew from 

7 court. | Thus, each one | having vanquished | and been 

8 vanquished, | they went to end | their days together 

9 into a peaceful solitude, | and left the 
10 kingdom | to their other brother. 



11 THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THE ASS. 

12 A miller | had an ass | that was useless to him: 

13 he resolved to dispose of him | at the first fair. 

14 The day being come, | he said to his son : I want to sell 

15 master Grizzle ; | we do not want him : | our 

16 horses | and our mules | suffice to carry 

17 the flour, | and the grain. | — You are right, 

18 father, | this animal | does not work; | he does nothing but 

19 bray, | and trouble the repose | of our neighbours: if 

20 you wish, | I will accompany you | to the fair. 

21 The father consents to it. | They set out, [ the father, 

22 the son, and the ass. | Not to tire | the ass, 

23 and to make him appear | fresh, | they tie his feet, 

24 and carry him | by means | of a pole, | which 

25 each one held | by an end. | The first person 

26 who saw them | burst a laughing. | Poor simpletons 

27 What farce are you acting? | The most stupid of the three 

28 is not that ) which you carry. | — You are in the right, 

29 said the miller, | blushing at his simplicity; | I 

30 acknowledge my error. | Instantly he unties 

31 the beast, | and drives it | before him. | The ass 

32 that liked to be carried, | complained | in his gibberish 

4 



38 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 de ce qu'on le faisait marcher. | Le meunier n'ecoute pas 

2 ses plaintes, | et son fils [ monte sur Pane. 

3 Vous n'y pensez pas, | jeune etourdi, | dit un homme 

4 qui passait | par le meme chemin : | n'etes-vous pas 

5 honteux | de laisser derriere vous | ce pauvre 

6 vieillard | qui n'en peut plus? | Descendez : | vous etes 

7 grand et robuste : | c'est a vous de suivre | et la 

8 barbe grise | doit monter sur Pane. | Monsieur, dit 

9 le meunier, | ayez un peu de patience : | vous serez 

10 satisfait. j Le garcon | met pied a terre, | et son pere 

11 monte sur le baudet. | Quelle barbarie, | dit une 
] 2 vieille femme, | de laisser | ce jeune homme 

13 aller a pied, | tandis que | ce vieux penard | est assis 
*4 comme un eveque, | et pense | etre bien sage! 

15 Le pere crut | avoir tort | et prit son fils | en croupe. 

16 Monsieur Grison | se plaignit | a son tour ; 

17 Que vous etes cruel | de traiter ainsi | une pauvre bete 

18 qui vous a servi | si long-temps ! | Vous m'ecrasez, 

19 mon bon maltre. | Avance, Grison. — | Grison obeit. 

20 Un moment apres, | ils rencontrent | d'autres voyageurs. 

21 Chacun trouva a gloser ; | Pun dit ; | Ces gens-ci sont fous. 

22 Le baudet n'en peut plus ; | Pautre ajoute ; | il mourra 

23 sous leur poids ; | sans doute, | ils n'ont envie que 

24 de vendre sa peau | a la foire. | Parbleu, dit le meunier 

25 en colere, | bien fou est celui | qui pretend plaire 

26 a tout le monde ; | cependant voyons | si je ne puis 

27 en venir a bout. | lis descendent tous deux, | pere 

28 et fils. I L'ane decharge | de son pesant fardeau 

29 marche devant eux, | dressant les oreilles, | et 

30 charme d'etre | a son aise. | A peine | avaient-ils 

31 fait un mille, | qu'un autre voyageur | les rencontra. 

32 Nouveau reproche. | — Depuis quand, | demanda-t-il, 

33 est-ce la mode, | qu'un ane voyage | a son aise, 

34 et qu'un meunier | aille a pied ? | — Vous avez raison, 

35 repondit le maitre ; | ceux que | nous avons rencontres 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 39 

1 because they made him walk. | The miller does not listen to 

2 his complaints, | and his son | gets upon the ass. 

3 You do not think of it, | heedless young man, | said a man 

4 who passed | by the same way ; | are you not 

5 ashamed ( to leave behind you [ this poor 

6 old man | who is quite spent ! | Come down : | you are 

7 tall and robust : J it Is your turn to follow | and the 

8 grey beard | is to mount upon the ass. | Sir, said 

9 the miller, | have a little patience : | you will be 

10 satisfied. | The boy | alights, | and his father 

11 gets upon the ass. | What barbarity, | said an 

12 old woman, | to suffer | that young man 

13 to go on foot, | whilst | this old dotard | is seated 

14 like a bishop, | and thinks | to be very wise ! 

15 The father thought | he was wrong, | and took his son | be- 

16 Master Grizzle | complained | in his turn. [hind. 

17 How cruel you are | to treat thus | a poor beast 

18 that has served you | for so long a time ! | You crush me, 

19 my good master. | Go on, Grizzle. | Grizzle obeys. 

20 A moment after, | they meet | other travellers. 

21 Each one found a fault; | one said: | These people are crazy. 

22 The ass is quite exhausted ; | another adds : | He will die 

23 under their weight : | undoubtedly, | they only want 

24 to sell his skin | at the fair. | Zounds, said the miller 

25 in a passion, | he is a fool indeed | who pretends to please 

26 every body : | however let us see | if I cannot 

27 bring it about. | They both alight, | father 

28 and son. | The ass unloaded | of his heavy load 

29 walks before them, | pricking up his ears, | and 

30 pleased at being | at his ease. | Scarcely | had they 

31 walked a mile, | when another traveller | met them. 

32 New reproach. | — Since what time, ] did he ask, 

33 is it the fashion, | that an ass should travel | at his ease, 

34 and that a miller | should go on foot 1 | — You are right, 

35 answered the master, | those whom I we met 



40 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 avant vous | pretendaient | la meme chose ; mais 

2 blamez-moi | ou me louez, | je veux desormais 

3 faire a ma tete. | II le fit, | et fit bien. 



4 AVANTAGES DE L'ETUDE. 

5 Pour mieux supporter | 1 'ennui | de la captivite 

6 et de la solitude, | je cherchai des livres, | car j' etais 

7 accable de tristesse, | faute de quelque instruction 

8 qui put nourrir | et soutenir | mon esprit. | Heureux, 

9 disais-je, | ceux qui meprisent | les plaisirs violents, j et qui 

10 savent se contenter | des douceurs | d'une vie innocente ! 

11 Heureux ceux, | pour qui 1' instruction | est un amusement, 

12 et qui se plaisent | a orner leur esprit | de science! 

13 En quelqu* endroit qu' | ils soient jetes | par le sort, 

14 ils portent | avec eux | de quoi | s'entretenir : 

15 et l'ennui, | qui devore | les autres hommes, 

16 au milieu meme | de leurs plaisirs, | est inconnu 

17 a ceux | qui savent s'occuper | de la lecture. 

18 Heureux ceux [ qui aiment a lire, | et qui ne sont pas, 

19 comme moi, | prives de la lecture! | Pendant que 

20 ces pensees roulaient | dans mon esprit, | je m'enfonc.ai 

21 dans une sombre foret, | ou j'apercus | tout-a-coup 

22 un vieillard | qui tenait un livre | a la main. 

23 II avait le front grand, | chauve | et un peu ride ; 

24 une barbe blanche | pendait | jusqu' a sa ceinture ; 

25 sa taille etait | haute et majestueuse, | son teint 

26 etait encore frais | et vermeil, | ses yeux vifs | et pendants ; 

27 sa voix etait douce, | et ses paroles | simples et aimables. 

28 Jamais je n'ai vu | un vieillard | si venerable. 

29 II s'appelait Termosiris, | il etait pretre | d'Apollon 

30 qu' il adorait | dans un temple de marbre, | que les rois 

31 d' Egypte | avaient consacre | a ce dieu | dans cette foret. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 41 

1 before you, | pretended | the same thing ; but 

2 blame me, | or praise me, | I want, henceforward, 

3 to be my own adviser. | He did so, | and did well. 



4 ADVANTAGES OF STUDY. 

5 The better to bear | the irksomeness | of captivity 

6 and solitude, | I sought for books,. | for I was 

7 overwhelmed with sadness, j for want of some instruction 

8 that could nourish j and sustain | my mind. | Happy, 

9 said I, | those who despise | violent pleasures, | and who 

10 are satisfied | with the sweets | of an innocent life! 

11 Happy those | for whom instruction | is an amusement, 

12 and who find pleasure | in adorning their mind | with science! 

13 Wherever | they may be driven | by fate, 

14 they carry | with them | wherewith | to amuse themselves: 

15 and ennui, | which devours | other men 

16 even in the midst | of their pleasures, | is unknown 

17 to them | who know how to occupy themselves | with reading. 

18 Happy those | who like to read, j and who are not, 

19 like me, | deprived of reading! ) Whilst 

20 these thoughts revolved | in my mind, | I penetrated 

21 into a dark forest, | where I perceived, | suddenly, 

22 an old man, | who held a book | in his hand. 

23 His forehead was large, | bald, | and a little wrinkled 

24 a white beard | hung down | to his girdle ; 

25 his stature was | high and majestic, | his complexion 

26 was still fresh | and ruddy, | his eyes lively | and piercing; 

27 his voice was sweet, ) and his words | simple and amiable. 

28 Never did I see | an old man | so venerable. 

29 His name was Termosiris ; | he was a priest | of Apollo, 

30 whom he adored | in a temple of marble, | which the kings 

31 of Egypt | had consecrated j to that God, | in that forest. 

4* 



42 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 Le livre qu'il tenait | etait un recueil | d'hymnes 

2 en l'honneur des dieux. | II m'aborda | avec amitie, 

3 et nous nous mimes | a discourir ensemble. | II racontait 

4 les choses passees | avectant dejustesse | qu'elles semblaient 

5 presentes, | et cependant | avec une telle brievete | que 

6 ses histoires | ne lassaient jamais. | II prevoyait l'avenir 

7 par son profond savoir ; | il connaissait les hommes 

8 et les desseins | dont ils sont capables. | Avec tant de 

9 sagesse, | ii etait gai, | complaisant ; | et la jeunesse 

10 la plusenjouee | n'a point | autant de graces, 

11 qu'en avait cet homme | dans une vieillesse si avancee; 

12 aussi aimait-il | les jeunes gens, | quand ils etaient 

13 dociles, | et qu'ils avaient | le gout de la vertu. 



14 I/INGRATITUDE— CONTE ORIENTAL. 

15 Un dervis | venerable par son age, | tomba malade 

16 dans la maison | d'une femme | qui etait veuve 

17 depuis plusieurs annees, | et qui vivait | dans une extreme 

18 pauvrete | dans les faubourgs | de Bassora. | II fut 

19 si touche du soin | et du zele | avec lesquels | elle 

20 l'avait assiste, | qu'a son depart | il lui dit : 

21 Vous avez | de quoi subsister seule, | mais vous 

22 n'avez pas | assez de fortune | pour la partager | avec 

23 votre fils unique, | le jeune Abdallah. | Si vous voulez 

24 le confler | a mes soins, | je tacherai de reconnaitre 

25 en sa personne, | les obligations | que je vous ai 

26 du soin | que vous avez pris | de moi. | La bonne femme 

27 recut cette proposition | avec joie, | et le dervis partit 

28 avec le jeune homme, | Pavertissant | qu'il fallait 

29 qu'ils fissent un voyage | qui durerait | pros de deux ans. 

30 Pendant qu'ils voyageaient, | il le tint | dans l'abondance, 

31 lui donna | d'excellents preceptes, | et le guerit | d'une 

32 maladie dangereuse | dont | il etait attaque ; | enfln 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 43 

1 The book that he held | was a collection | of hymns 

2 in honour of the gods. | He accosted me | with friendship, 

3 and we began | to converse together. | He related 

4 past events | with so much accuracy | that they seemed 

5 to be present, | and yet | with such brevity | that 

6 his stories | never tired attention. | He foresaw the future 

7 by his profound knowledge ; | he knew men 

8 and the designs | of which they are capable. | With so much 

9 wisdom, | he was cheerful, | condescending; | and youth 

10 the most lively | has not J so much grace 

11 as that man had | in so advanced an age: 

12 therefore he loved | young people, | when they were 

13 docile, I and had I a taste for virtue. 



14 INGRATITUDE.— AN EASTERN TALE. 

15 A dervis, | venerable by his age, | fell ill 

16 in the house | of a woman | who had been a widow 

17 for several years, | and who lived | in extreme 

18 poverty | in the suburbs | of Bassora. | He was 

19 so touched with the care | and zeal | with which | she 

20 had assisted him, | that on his departure | he told her 

21 You have | wherewith to subsist alone, | but you 

22 have not | fortune enough | to share it | with 

23 your only son, | the young Abdallah. | If you wish 

24 to trust him | to my care, | I will try to acknowledge 

25 in his person, | the obligations | that I have to you 

26 for the care | which you took | of me. | The good woman 

27 received this proposal | with joy, | and the dervis set out 

28 with the young man, | warning her, | that they must 

29 perform a journey, | which would last | nearly two years. 

30 As they travelled, | he kept him | in affluence, 

31 gave him | excellent precepts, | and cured him | of a 

32 dangerous disease, | with which | he was attacked ; | in fine 



44 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 il en prit le meme soin | que s'il eut ete | son propre fils. 

2 Abdallah lui temoigna cent fois | sa reconnaissance | pour 

3 toutes ses bonles ; | mais le vieillard | repondait toujours : 

4 Mon fils, j c'est par les aotions | que 

5 la reconnaissance se prouve ; | nous verrons 

6 bientot, | si vous etes | aussi reconnaissant | que 

7 vous le pretendez. | Un jour | qu'ils continuaient 

8 leur voyage, | ils se trouverent | dans un 

9 lieu solitaire, | et le dervis | dit a Abdallah ; 

10 Mon fils, | nous sommes maintenant | a la fin 

11 de notre voyage; | j'emploierai mes prieres 

12 pour obtenir | du Ciel | que la terre s'ouvre 

13 et fasse une entree | assez large | pour vous permettre 

14 de descendre | dans un lieu | ou vous trouverez 

15 un des plus grands tresors | que la terre renferme. 

16 Etes- vous j assez courageux | pour descendre | dans 

17 ce souterrain ? | — Abdallah lui jura | qu'il pouvait 

18 compter | sur son obeissance | et sur son zele. | Alors le 

19 dervis | alluma un petit feu j dans lequel | il jeta 

20 un parfum ; | il lut et pria | pendant quelques moments^ 

21 apres quoi | la terre s'entr'ouvrit, | et le dervis lui dit : 

22 Vous pouvez entrer | a present, | mon cher Abdallah ; 

23 souvenez-vous | qu'il ne tient qu'a vous | de me rendre 

24 un grand service, | et que ceci | est peut-etre | la seule 

25 occasion [ que vous puissiez | jamais avoir 

26 de me temoigner | que vous n'etes pas | ingrat. 

27 Ne vous laissez pas eblouir | par toutes les richesses 

28 que vous y trouverez: | ne pensez qu'a prendre | un 

29 chandelier | a douze branches, | que vous trouverez 

30 pres d'une porte : | il m'est absolument necessaire. 

31 — Abdallah promit tout, | et descendit hardiment 

32 dans le souterrain ; | mais oubliant | ce qui 

33 lui avait ete recommande, | tandis qu'il remplissait 

34 sa veste | et son sein | d'or et de joyaux | dont 

35 ce caveau | renfermait | des tas prodigieux, 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 45 

1 he took the same care of him, | as if he had been | his own 

2 Abdallah a hundred times testified | his gratitude | for [son. 

3 all his favors ; j but the old man | always answered : 

4 My son, | it is by actions | that 

5 gratitude is proved ; | we shall see 
8 soon, | if you are | as grateful | as 

7 you pretend to be. | One day | as they continued 

8 their journey, | they found themselves | in a 

9 solitary place, | and the dervis | said to Abdallah : 

10 My son, | we are now | at the termination 

11 of our journey ; | I will employ my prayers 

12 to obtain | from heaven | that the earth may open, 

13 and make an entrance | wide enough | to allow you 

14 to descend | into a place | where you will find 

15 one of the greatest treasures | that the earth encloses. 

16 Are you | courageous enough | to descend | into 

17 this cave? | — Abdallah swore to him | that he could 

18 depend | on his obedience, | and zeal. | Then the 

19 dervis | lighted a little fire, | into which | he threw 

20 a perfume ; | he read and prayed | for some moments, 

21 after which | the earth opened, | and the dervis said to him : 

22 You may go in | at present, | my dear Abdallah : 

23 remember | that it is in your power | to do me 

24 a great service, | and that this | is perhaps | the only 

25 opportunity, | which you may | ever have 

26 of showing me | that you are not | ungrateful. 

27 Do not let yourself be dazzled | by all the riches 

28 which you will find there; | think only of taking | a 

29 candlestick, | with twelve branches, | which you will find 

30 near a door : | it is absolutely necessary to me. 

31 — Abdallah promised all, | and descended boldly 

32 into the cavern ; | but forgetting | that which 

33 had been recommended to him, | as he was filling 

34 his vest | and bosom | with gold and jewels, | of which 

35 this cave | contained | prodigious heaps, 



46 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 l'ouverture | par laquelle | il etait entre, 

2 se referma d'elle-meme. | II eut cependant 

3 assez de presence d' esprit | pour s'emparer du 

4 chandelier j que le dervis | lui avait recommande 

5 si fortement ; | et quoique | sa situation | fut terrible, 

6 il ne s' abandonna pas | au desespoir, | et 

7 ne pensant qu' au moyen | de sortir | d'un endroit 

8 qui aurait pu devenir | son tombeau, | il comprit que 

9 le caveau | ne s' etait ferme que | parce qu 'il n' avait pas 

10 suivi l'ordre | du dervis; j il se rappela 

11 les bontes | dont il -1' avait comble, 

12 se reprocha | son ingratitude, | et s' humilia 

13 devant Dieu. | Enfin, ( apres beaucoup d'inquietude, 

14 il fut assez heureux | pour trouver | un passage etroit 

15 qui le conduisit | bors de la caverne. | II regarda alors 

16 de tous cotes | pour voir | s'il apercevrait 

17 le dervis, | mais en vain : | il avait dessein 

18 de lui rendre | le chandelier | qu' il desirait tant, 

19 et il forma le projet | de le quitter, | etant assez riche 

20 de ce qu' il avait pris | dans la caverne 

21 pour vivre | dans Taffluence | sans son assistance. 

22 N'apercevant pas | le dervis, | et ne se rappelant pas 

23 les endroits | par ou il avait passe, | il alia 

24 comme la fortune | le dirigea, | et il fut 

25 extremement surpris | de se trouver | vis-a-vis de 

26 la maison de sa mere | qu' il croyait | tres-eloignee. 

27 Elle s' informa sur-le-champ | du saint dervis. 

28 Abdallah lui dit | franchement | ce qui etait arrive, 

29 et le danger | qu'il avait couru | pour satisfaire 

30 ses desirs deraisonnables ; | ensuite, | il lui montra 

31 les richesses | qu' il possedait. | Sa mere conclut 

32 en les voyant | que le dervis | ne voulait que 

33 faire une epreuve | de son courage j et de son 

34 obeissance, | et qu' ils devaient | faire usage 

35 du bonheur j que la fortune | leur avait offert ; 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 47 

1 the aperture | through which | he had entered, 

2 closed of itself. | He had, however, 

3 sufficient presence of mind | to seize upon the 

4 candlestick, | which the dervis | had recommended to him 

5 so strongly; | and although | his situation | was terrible, 

6 he did not give himself up ] to despair, | and 

7 thinking only how | to get out | of a place 

8 which might have become j his tomb, | he apprehended that 

9 the vault | had closed only | because he had not 

10 followed the order | of the dervis ; j he remembered 

11 the favors | with which he had loaded him, 

12 reproached himself with | his ingratitude, | and humbled 

13 before God. | At last, | after much inquietude, [himself 

14 he was fortunate enough | to find | a narrow passage 

15 which led him | out of the cave. | He then looked 

16 on all sides, | to see | if he could perceive 

17 the dervis, | but in vain : | he intended 

18 to return him | the candlestick, | which he wished so much, 

19 and he formed the project j ofquittinghim | being rich enough 

20 with what he had taken | out of the cave 

21 to live | in affluence | without his assistance. 

22 Not perceiving | the dervis, | and not remembering 

23 the places | through which he had passed, | he went 

24 as fortune | directed him, | and he was 

25 extremely surprised | to find himself | opposite 

26 the house of his mother, | which he thought | very distant. 

27 She immediately inquired | after the holy dervis. 

28 Abdallah told her | frankly | what had happened, 

29 and the danger | which he had run | to satisfy 

30 his unreasonable wishes ; | then | he showed her 

31 the riches | which he possessed. His mother concluded 

32 when she saw them, | that the dervis | only wished 

33 to make a trial | of his courage | and of his 

34 obedience, | and that they were | to make use 

35 of the good luck, | which fortune | had offered them ; 



48 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 ajoutant que | sans doute | telle etait l'intention 

2 du saint dervis. | Pendant qu'ils contemplaient 

3 ces tresors | avec avidite, | qu'ils etaient eblouis 

4 de leur lustre, | et qu'ils formaient | mille projets, 

5 ils les virent | disparaitre. | Ce fut alors que 

6 Abdallah | se reprocha | son ingratitude 

7 et sa desobeissance ; | et s'apercevant | que le 

8 chandelier de fer | avait resiste | a l'enchantement, 

9 ou qu'il recevait la punition | que meritent 

10 ceux qui n'executent pas | ce qu'ils promettent; 

11 il dit, | en se prosternant : | — " Ce qui m'est arrive ; 

12 est juste; | j'ai perdu ce que | j'avais resolu 

13 de ne pas rendre, j et le chandelier | que je me proposais 

14 de rendre au dervis | me reste ; | c'est une preuve 

15 qu'il lui appartient | de droit, | et que le reste 

16 a ete | injustement acquis." | Comme il finissait 

17 ces paroles, | il placa | le chandelier de fer 

18 au milieu de | leur petite demeure. 

19 Quand la nuit | fut venue, | sans y faire reflexion, 

20 il placa | une lumiere | dans le chandelier. | Aussitot 

21 ils virent paraitre un dervis, | qui tourna | pendant une 

22 heure | et disparut, | apres leur avoir jete | un aspre. 

23 Le chandelier | avait douze branches. | Abdallah 

24 qui avait medite | tout le jour | sur ce qu'il avait vu 

25 la nuit precedente | voulut savoir | ce qui arriverait 

26 le jour suivant, | s'il mettait | une lumiere | dans 

27 chacune d'elles : [ il le fit, | et douze dervis parurent 

28 a l'instant ; | ils tournerent aussi | pendant une heure, 

29 et chacun d'eux | jeta un aspre | et disparut. 

30 II repeta | tous les jours | la mcme ceremonie, | qui 

31 eut toujours | le meme succes ; | mais il ne put 

32 la faire reussir | plus d'une fois | dans les vingt-quatre 

33 heures. J Cette petite somme | etait suffisante 

34 pour les faire subsister | passablemcnt, | lui et sa 

35 mere : | il y eut un temps | qu'ils n'auraient desire 



FIRST LESSORS IN FRENCH. 

1 adding that | undoubtedly | such was the intention 

2 of the holy dervis. | Whilst they contemplated 

3 those treasures | with avidity, | were dazzled 

4 with their lustre, | and formed | a thousand projects, 

5 they saw them | disappear. | It was then, that 

6 Abdallah | reproached himself with | his ingratitude 

7 and his disobedience; | and perceiving [that the 

8 iron candlestick | had resisted | the enchantment, 

9 or that he received the punishment | which they deserve 

10 who do not execute | what they promise ; 

11 he said, | prostrating himself: | — " What has happened to 

12 is just ; | I have lost that which | I had resolved [me 

13 not to restore, | and the candlestick, | which I intended 

14 to return to the dervis j remains with me; | it is a proof 

15 that it belongs to him | by right, | and that the rest 

16 was | unjustly acquired." | As he finished 

17 these words, | he placed | the iron candlestick 

18 in the midst of | their little abode. 

19 When night ] was come, | without reflecting upon it, 

20 he placed | a light | in the candlestick. | Immediately 

21 they saw a dervis appear, | who turned round | for one 

22 hour, | and disappeared, | after having thrown them | an as- 

23 The candlestick | had twelve branches. | Abdallah [p er « 

24 who had meditated | all day long | upon what he had seen 

25 the night before, | wished to know | what would happen 

26 the next day, | if he put | a light, | in 

27 each of them : | he did so, | and twelve dervises appeared 

28 instantly; | they also turned round | for an hour, 

29 and each of them | threw an asper, | and disappeared. 

30 He repeated | every day | the same ceremony, | which 

31 always had | the same success ; | but he could not 

32 make it succeed | more than once | in the twenty -four 

33 hours. | This little sum | was sufficient 

34 to make them subsist | tolerably, | himself and his 

35 mother : | there was a time | when they could have wished 

5 



50 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 rien de plus | pour etre heureux ; | mais elle n'etait pas 

2 assez considerable | pour changer | leur fortune. 

3 II est toujours dangereux | que l'imagination soit 

4 fixee | sur l'idee des richesses. | La vue de ce qu'il 

5 croyait j qu'il possederait ; | les projets qu'ii avait formes 

6 pour l'employer ; | toutes ces choses | avaient laisse 

7 des traces si profondes [ dans l'esprit d'Abdallah, 

8 que rien ne pouvait | les effacer. | C'est pourquoi | voyant 

9 le petit avantage | qu'il retirait | du chandelier, 

10 il resolut de le porter | au dervis | dans l'esperance 

11 qu'il obtiendrait | le tresor | qu'il avait vu | ou 

12 du moins, | qu'il retrouverait | les richesses | qui 

13 s'etaient evanouies | de sa vue, | en lui rendant 

14 une chose pour laquelle | ii temoignait un desir 

15 si ardent. | II fut assez heureux | pour se souvenir de 

16 son nom | et de la ville | qu'il habitait. | C'est pourquoi 

17 il partit sur-le-champ | pour Magrebi, | portant avec 

18 lui | son chandelier, | qu'il alluma | toutes les nuits; 

19 et par ce moyen, | ii obtenait | tout ce qui etait necessaire 

20 sur la route, | sans etre oblige | d'implorer l'assistance 

21 et la compassion | des fideles. | Quand il arriva a 

22 Magrebi, | son premier soin | fut de s'informer 

23 dans quelle maison, | ou dans quel couvent 

24 logeait Abounadar. | II etait si bien connu 

25 que tout le monde lui dit | ou il demeurait. | II s'y rendit 

26 sur-le-champ, | et trouva | cinquante portiers | qui 

27 gardaient la porte | de la maison, | ayant chacun 

28 a la main | un baton a pomme d'or. | La cour de ce 

29 palais j etait remplie | d'esclaves | et de domestiques : 

30 en un mot, | la residence d'un prince | ne pourrait pas 

31 exposer a la vue | plus de magnificence. | Abdallah 

32 frappe d'etonnement | et d'admiration, | craignit 

33 d'avancer. | Certainement, | pensa-t-il, | ou 

34 je me suis mal explique, | ou ceux a qui je me suis adresse 

35 avaient dessein | de se moquer de moi, | parce que 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH, 51 

1 nothing more | to be happy ; | but it was not 

2 considerable enough | to change | their fortune. 

3 It is always dangerous | for the imagination to be 

4 fixed | on the idea of riches. | The sight of that which he 

5 thought | he would possess ; | the projects he had formed 

6 for the employment of. it ; | all these things | had left 

7 so profound traces | in the mind of Abdallah, 

8 that nothing could | efface them. | Therefore, | seeing 

9 the small advantage | that he drew | from the candlestick, 

10 he resolved to carry it | to the dervis, | in hopes 

11 that he would obtain | the treasure | he had seen, ( or 

12 at least | find again j the riches | which 

13 had vanished | from his sight, | by restoring to him 

14 a thing for which | he testified a wish 

15 so ardent. | He was so fortunate | as to remember 

16 his name | and the town | which he inhabited. | Therefore 

17 he departed immediately | for Magreby, | carrying with 

18 him | his candlestick, | which he lighted | every night ; 

19 and by that means | he obtained | all that was necessary 

20 on the road, | without being obliged | to implore the assistance 

21 and the compassion | of the faithful. | When he arrived at 

22 Magreby, [ his first care | was to enquire 

23 in what house, | or in which convent 

24 Abounadar lodged. | He was so well known, 

25 that everybody told him [ where he lived, j He repaired thither 

26 directly, | and found | fifty porters, | who 

27 kept the gate | of the house, j having each of them 

28 in his hand | a stick, with a golden head. | The court of this 

29 palace | was filled | with slaves, | and servants : 

30 in a word, | the residence of a prince | could not 

31 exhibit | more magnificence. | Abdallah, 

32 struck with astonishment | and admiration, | feared 

33 to proceed. | Certainly, | thought he, | either 

34 I explained myself wrong, | or those whom I addressed 

35 designed | to laugh at me, | because 



52 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 j'etais etranger: | ceci n'est pas la demeure | d'un dervis, 

2 c'est celle d'un roi. | II etait | dans cet embarras 

3 lorsqu'un homme | s'approcha de lui, | et lui dit : 

4 "Abdallah, | vous etes le bien-venu, | venez voir mon maitre; 

5 il y a long-temps qu'il vous attend." | Alors il 

6 le conduisit | a un pavilion agreable et magnifique, 

7 ou le dervis | etait assis. | Abdallah, frappe 

8 des richesses j qu'il voyait | de tous cotes 

9 se serait proslerne | a ses pieds, | mais Abounadar 

10 l'en empecha, j et l'interrompit | quand il voulut 

11 se faire un merite | du chandelier | qu'il lui presenta. 

12 — " Vous n'etes qu'un miserable ingrat, | lui dit-il : 

13 vous imaginez-vous | que vous puissiez [ m'en imposer? 

14 Je n'ignore aucune j de vo.s pensees ; | et si vous eussiez su 

15 le prix de ce chandelier, | je suis porte a croire | que 

16 vous ne me 1'auriez jamais apporte. | Vous allez 

17 en connaitre l'usage. ( Aussitot il plac.a j une lumiere 

18 dans chacune de ses branches ; | et quand les douze dervis 

19 eurent tourne | pendant quelque temps, | Abounadar 

20 donna a chacun d'eux | un coup de baguette ; j et, 

21 en un moment | ils furent changes | en douze monceaux 

22 de sequins, | de diamants | et d'autres pierres precieuses. 

23 — Voila j l'usage qu'on doit faire | de ce chandelier, 

24 dit-il. | Quant a moi, j je ne l'ai desire que | pour le placer 

25 dans mon cabinet, | comme un talisman | compose par, 

26 un sage | que je revere ; | il me plait | de le montrer 

27 quelquefois | a ceux | qui viennent me voir; 

28 et pour vous prouver, | ajouta-t-il, j que la curiosite 

29 fut le seul motif | qui m'engagea | a I'envoyer chercher, 

30 voici les clefs | de mes magasins ; | ouvrez-les, | et 

31 vous jugerez | de mes richesses ; | vous me direz si 

32 l'homme le plus avare | n'en serait pas satisfait. 

33 Abdallah lui obcif, | et il vit douze magasins 

34 tres-grands, | si rcmplis [ de toutcs sorrtes | dc 

35 richesses, | qu'il ne put distinguer | lesquelles meritaienf 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 53 

1 I was a stranger ; | this is not the abode | of a dervis, 

2 it is that of a king. | He was | thus perplexed 

3 when a man | approached him, | and told him : 

4 " Abdallah, | you are welcome, | come and see my master; 

5 he has long expected you." | Then he 

6 conducted him | to a pleasant and magnificent pavilion 

7 where the dervis | was sitting. ] Abdallah, struck 

8 with the riches | which he beheld | on all sides, 

9 would have prostrated himself | to his feet, | but Abounadar 

10 prevented him, | and interrupted him | when he wished to 

11 make a merit | of the candlestick | which he presented to him. 

12 — You are but an ungrateful wretch, | said he to him : 

13 do you imagine | that you can | impose upon me? [known 

14 I am ignorant of no one | of your thoughts ; | and had you 

15 the value of this candlestick, | I am inclined to think | that 

16 you would never have brought it to me. | You are going 

17 to know the use of it. | Immediately he placed | a light 

18 in each of its branches ; | and when the twelve dervises 

19 had turned round | for some time, | Abounadar 

20 gave to each of them | a blow with a wand ; | and, 

21 in an instant | they were changed [ into twelve heaps 

22 of zechins, | of diamonds, | and other precious stones. 

23 This is | the use which is to be made | of this candlestick, 

24 said he. | As to me, | I wished it only j to place it 

25 in my cabinet, | as a talisman | composed by 

26 a sage, | whom I revere ; | it pleases me | to show it 

27 sometimes | to those | who come to visit me ; 

28 and to prove to you, | added he, | that curiosity 

29 was ihe only motive | which induced me | to send for it, 

30 here are the keys | of my magazines ; | open them, | and 

31 you may judge | of my riches; | you will tell me if 

32 the most avaricious man | would not be satisfied. 

33 Abdallah obeyed him, | and he saw twelve magazines 

34 very large, | so full | of all sorts | of 

35 riches, | that he could not distinguish | which deserved 

5* 



54 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 le plus | son attention. | Elles la meritaient toutes, 

2 et elles produisirent | de nouveaux desirs. | Le regret 

3 d'avoir rendu | le chandelier, | et celui de 

4 n'en avoir pas trouve l'usage | lui percerent le coeur. 

5 Abounadar parut | ne pas s'en apercevoir ; 

6 il le combla | de caresses, | le retint | quelques jours 

7 dans sa maison, | et commanda | qu'on le traitat 

8 comme lui-meme. | La veille du jour | qu'il avait fixe 

9 pour son depart, | il lui dit : | " Mon fils, | je crois | par 

10 ce qui vous est arrive, | que vous etes corrige | du 

11 vice infame | de l'ingratitude ; | cependant | je 

12 vous dois une marque | de mon affection, | pour avoir 

13 entrepris j un si long voyage | dans la vue de 

14 m'apporter | la chose | que je desirais : | vous pouvez 

15 partir; | je ne vous retiendrai pas | plus long-temps. 

16 Vous trouverez demain j a la porte | de mon palais 

17 un de mes chevaux | pour vous porter; | je vous le donne; 

18 en outre | je vous fais present | d'un esclave | qui 

19 vous conduira chez vous, | et de deux chameaux | charges 

20 d'or | et de joyaux | que vous choisirez | vous-meme 

21 dans mes tresors." | — Abdallah lui dit | tout ce qu'un 

22 coeur | sensible a l'avarice | peut exprimer | quand 

23 sa passion | est satisfaite; | et il alia se coucher 

24 jusqu'au matin | qui etait fixe | pour son depart. 

25 Pendant la nuit, | il fut agite | sans pouvoir penser 

26 a autre chose | qu'au chandelier | et a ce qu'il avait 

27 produit. | — Je l'ai eu, | dit-il, | si longtemps 

28 en mon pouvoir ! | Sans moi, jamais Abounadar 

29 ne l'aurait possede. [ Quels risques | n'ai-je pas courus 

30 dans la voute souterraine? | Pourquoi est-ii a present 

31 possesseur de ce tresor | des tresors? | Parce que j'ai eu 

32 l'honnetete, | ou plutot la folie | de le lui apporter; 

33 il profite de mon travail, | et des dangers auxquels 

34 j'ai etc expose | dans un si long voyage. | Et, que 

35 me donne-t-il | en recompense 1 | Deux chameaux 



FIRST LESSONS I>7 FRENCH. 55 

1 the most | his attention. | They all deserved it, 

2 and they produced | new desires. | The regret 

3 of having restored | the candlestick, | and that of 

4 not having discovered its use | pierced his heart. 

5 Abounadar seemed | not to perceive it ; 

6 he loaded him | with caresses, | detained him | some days 

7 in his house, | and ordered j that he should be treated 

8 like himself. | On the eve of the day | which he had fixed 

9 for his departure, | he told him : | " My son, | I think | by 

10 what happened to you, | that you are cured | of the 

11 frightful vice | of ingratitude; | however, | I 

12 owe you a mark | of my affection, | for having 

13 undertaken j so long a journey | with the view of 

14 bringing me | the thing, | which I wished : | you may 

15 depart; | I will not detain you | any longer. 

16 To-morrow you will find | at the gate | of my palace 

17 one of my horses ] to carry you ; [ I give it to you, 

18 besides | I make you a present | of a slave, | who 

19 will conduct you home, | and of two camels | loaded 

20 with gold | and jewels, | which you may choose | yourself 

21 out of my treasures." | — Abdallah told him j all that a 

22 heart | sensible to avarice | can express, | when 

23 his passion | is satisfied ; j and he went to lie down 

24 till the morning | which was fixed | for his departure. 

25 During the night, | he was agitated, | without being able to 

26 of any thing | but the candlestick, | and what it had [think 

27 produced. | — I had it, | said he, | for so long a time 

28 in my power ! | Had it not been for me, never could Abouna- 

29 have possessed it. | What risks | have I not run [dar 

30 in the subterraneous vault? | Why is he now 

31 possessor of this treasure [ of treasures? | Because I had 

32 the honesty, | or rather the folly | to bring it to him ; 

33 he profits by my labour, | and the dangers to which 

34 I was exposed | in so long a journey. | And, what 

35 does he give me | in return ? | Two camels 



56 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 charges d'or | et de joyaux. | En un moment | le chandelier 

2 lui en fournira | dix fois autant. | C'est Abounadar 

3 qui est ingrat : | quel tort | lui ferai-je | en prenant 

4 ce chandelier? | Aucun, certainement: | car il est 

5 riche .; | et qu'est-ce que je possede 1 | Ces idees 

6 le determinerent j enfin | a faire toutes les tentatives 

7 pour se saisir du chandelier. | La chose n'etait pas 

8 difficile. | Abounadar lui ayant confie | les clefs de 

9 ses magasins, | il savait | ou le chandelier | etait 

10 place ; | il s'en empara, | le cacha au fond | d'un de 

11 ses sacs, | qu'il remplit | de pieces d'or | et d'autres 

12 richesses, | qu'il avait la permission | de prendre, et 

13 le chargea, | aussi bien que le reste, | sur ses chameaux. 

14 Apres avoir dit adieu | au genereux Abounadar, 

15 il lui rendit ses clefs, | et partit a la hate, 

16 avec son cheval, | son esclave | et ses deux chameaux. 

17 Quand il fut | a quelques journees | de Bassora 

18 il vendit son esclave, | etant resolu | de n'avoir pas 

19 de temoin | de sa premiere pauvrete, | ni de la source 

20 de ses richesses. | II en acheta un autre, | et arriva | sans 

21 aucun obstacle, | chez sa mere, | qu'il voulut a peine 

22 regarder, | tant il etait epris | de son tresor. | Son 

23 premier soin | fut de placer j les charges de ses chameaux 

24 et le chandelier | dans la chambre | la plus retiree 

25 de la maison ; | et dans l'impatience ou il etait 

26 de repaitre ses yeux | de sa grande opulence, | il 

27 placa sur-le-champ des lumieres | dans le chandelier. 

28 Les douze dervis paraissant, | il donna a chacun d'eux 

29 un coup de canne, | de toutes ses forces, | de peur 

30 de manquer aux lois | du talisman : | mais il n'avait pas 

31 remarque | qu' Abounadar, | quand il les frappa, 

32 avait la canne | dans la main gauche. | Abdallah 

33 par un mouvement naturel, | se servit de sa droite; 

34 et les dervis, | au lieu de devenir | des monceaux 

35 de richesses. | tire rent sur-le-champ | de dessous 



FIHST LESSONS IN IRENCII. 57 

1 loaded with gold | and jewels. | In a moment j the candlestick 

2 will furnish him with j ten times as much. J h is Abounadar 

3 who is ungrateful : | what wrong | shall I do him, j in taking 

4 this candlestick ? | None, certainly ; j for he is 

5 rich; j and what do I possess? j These ideas 

6 determined him j at last | to make all attempts 

7 to seize upon the candlestick, j The thing was not 

8 difficult. | Abounadar having trusted him with | the keys of 

9 his magazines, | he knew ] where the candlestick j was 

10 placed ; | he seized upon it, | hid it in the bottom | of one of 

11 his bags, | which he filled | with pieces of gold, | and other 

12 riches, j that he had permission j to take, | and 

13 loaded it, | as well as the rest, | on his camels. 

14 After having bid adieu J to the generous Abounadar, 

15 he returned him his keys, | and set out hastily, 

16 with his horse, | his slave, | and his two camels. 

17 When he was | some days journey j from Bassora 

18 he sold his slave, j being determined J to have no 

19 witness J of his former poverty, | nor of the source [out 

20 of his riches, j He bought another one, | and arrived | with- 

21 any obstacle,] at his mother's house] on whom he would scarce 

22 look, j so much was he taken up ] with his treasure. | His 

23 first care | was to place j the loads of his camels, 

24 and the candlestick j in the room | the most retired 

25 of the house ; | and in his impatience 

26 to feed his eyes | with his great opulence, | he 

27 placed lights immediately | in the candlestick. 

28 The twelve dervises appearing, | he gave each of them 

29 a blow with a cane, | with all his strength, | for fear 

30 of failing in the laws | of the talisman : | but he had not 

31 remarked j that Abounadar, j when he struck them, 

32 had the cane | in the left hand. | Abdallah 

33 by a natural motion, | used his right ; 

34 and the dervises, | instead of becoming | heaps 

35 of riches | drew suddenly | from under 



58 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 leur robe | des massues formidables, | dont ils 

2 le frapperent | si fort | et si long-temps, | qu'ils 

3 le laisserent | presque morf, | et disparurent, | emportant 

4 avec eux | tout son tresor, | les chameaux, | le cheval, 

5 l'esclave | et le chandelier. | C'est ainsi qu" Abdallah 

6 fut puni | de son ambition deraisonnable | et de son 

7 ingratitude, | et qu'il ne put cacher | sa perfldie 

8 a son bienfaiteur. 



9 DEPART DE GIL-BLAS POUR SALAMANQUE. 

10 Avant mon depart ] j'allai embrasser | mon pere | et 

11 ma mere | qui ne m'epargnerent pas | les remontrances. 

12 Ils m'exhorterent | a etre reconnaissant | envers mon 

13 oncle, | a vivre en honnete homme, | et sur toutes choses, 

14 a ne pas prendre | le bien d'autrui ; [ et ils me firent present 

15 de leur benediction, [ qui etait | le seul bien | que 

16 j'attendais d'eux. | Aussitot | je montai sur ma mule, 

17 et je sortis | de la ville. [ — Me voila done [ hors 

18 d'Oviedo, | sur le chemin de Pegnaflor, | maitre de 

19 mes actions, | d'une mauvaise mule, | de quarante 

20 bons ducats | et de quelques reaux. | La 

21 premiere chose | que je fis, | fut de compter | et de 

22 recompter | mes ducats | dans mon chapeau. | Je 

23 n'etais pas maitre de ma joie ; | je n'avais jamais vu 

24 tant d'argent ; | je ne pouvais me lasser | de le regarder 

25 et de le manier. | Je le comptais | peut-etre pour la 

26 vingtieme fois, j quand tout-a-coup | ma mule s'arreta 

27 au milieu | du grand chemin. | Je jugeai que 

28 quelque chose 1'efTrayait : | je regardai | et j'aperqus 

29 sur la terre | un chapeau renverse ; | en meme temps 

30 j'entendis | une voix lamentable | qui prononqa | ces 

31 paroles : | M Seigneur passant, | ayez pitie | de grace 

32 d'un pauvre soldat estropie ; | jetcz, s'il vous plait, 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 59 

1 their robes | formidable clubs, | with which they 

2 struck him | so hard | and* so long, | that they 

3 left him | almost dead, | and disappeared, | carrying off 

4 with them | all his treasure, | the camels, | the horse, 

5 the slave, | and the candlestick. | Thus Abdallah 

6 was punished | for his unreasonable ambition | and his 

7 ingratitude, | and could not conceal | his perfidy 

8 from his benefactor. 



9 DEPARTURE OF GIL-BLAS FOR SALAMANCA. 

10 Previous to my departure j I went to kiss | my father | and 

11 mother, | who did not spare me | remonstrances. 

12 They exhorted me | to be grateful | towards my 

13 uncle, | to live an honest man, | and, above all, 

14 not to take | the goods of others ; | and they gave me 

15 their benediction, | which was | the only thing | that 

16 I expected from them. | Immediately | I mounted my mule, 

17 and went out | of the town. | — Behold me, then, | out 

18 of Oviedo, | on the way to Pegnaflor, | master of 

19 my actions, | of a bad mule, | forty 

20 good ducats, | and some reals. | The 

21 first thing | which I did, | was, to count | and 

22 count again | my ducats | in my hat. | I 

23 could not contain my joy ; | I had never seen 

24 so much money ; | I could not tire myself | in looking at it 

25 and handling it. | I was counting it, | perhaps for the 

26 twentieth time, | when suddenly | my mule stopped 

27 in the midst | of the high road. | I judged that 

28 something frightened him : | I looked, | and perceived 

29 on the ground | a hat overturned ; | at the same time 

30 I heard | a lamentable voice, | which uttered | these 

31 words : | " Mr. traveller, | have pity, | [ pray, 

32 on a poor lame soldier ; | throw, if you please, 



60 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 quelques pieces d'argent | dans ce chapeau ; | vous 

2 en serez recompense | dans r'autre monde." 

3 Je tournai alors les yeux | du cote | d'ou partait la voix : 

4 je vis, | au pied d'un buisson | une espece de soldat, 

5 tenant en main | un fusil | avec lequel 

6 il me couchait en joue. | A cette vue j qui me fit 

7 trembler, | jtfWarretai toutf court; | je serrai promptement 

8 mes ducats, j je jetai quelques reaux 

9 dans le chapeau | et j'eus la precaution | de les jeter 

10 Pun apres 1'autre, j pour montrer au soldat, | que 

11 j'en usais noblement ; | il fut satisfait [ de ma 

12 generosite, | et me donna | autant de benedictions 

13 que je donnai j de coups de pieds | a ma mule 

14 pour m'eloigner promptement J de lui ; | mais la 

15 maudite bete | n'en alia pas plus vite : | la longue 

16 habitude j qu'elle avait contracted | de marcher | pas a pas 

17 sous mon.oncle, | lui avait fait perdre j l'usage du 

18 galop, j — Je ne tirai pas J de cette a venture 

19 un augure trop favorable | pour mon voyage. 

20 Je me representai | que je n'etais pas encore 

21 a Salamanque, | et que je pourrais bien 

22 faire une plus mauvaise rencontre. 



23 SOLUTION DE DEUX QUESTIONS. 

24 Le premier d'entre les vieillards | ouvrit le livre | des lois de 

25 Minos. | C'etait un grand livre | qu'on tenait d'ordinaire 

26 renferme | dans une cassette d'or | avec des parfums. 

27 Tous les vieillards | le baiserent | avec respect; | car 

28 ils disent, | qu'apres les dieux, | de qui les bonnes lois 

29 viennent, | rien ne doit etre | si sacrc aux horn mes 

30 que les lois | destinees a les rend re bons, | sages et 

31 heureux. | Ceux qui sont charges | de Pexecution des 

32 lois | pour gouvcrner les hommes | doivent toujours 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 61 

1 some pieces of money | into this hat ; | you 

2 will be rewarded for it | in the other world." 

3 I then turned my eyes | on the side | whence the voice came : 

4 I saw | at the foot of a bush | a kind of soldier, 

5 holding in his hand | a musket | with which 

6 he was taking aim at me. | At this sight | that made me 

7 tremble, | I stopped short ; | I promptly concealed 

8 my ducats, | I threw some reals 

9 into the hat | and had the precaution | to throw them 

10 one after another, [ to show the soldier, | that 

11 I acted nobly; | he was satisfied | with my 

12 generosity, | and gave me j as many blessings 

13 as I gave | kicks j to my mule 

14 in order to get quickly away | from him, | but the 

15 cursed animal | did not go any faster for that : | the long 

16 habit | which he had contracted | to walk | step by step 

17 under my uncle, | had made him lose | the use of the 
13 gallop. | — I did not draw | from this adventure 

19 too favorable an omen | for my journey. 

20 I represented to myself | that I was not yet 

21 at Salamanca, | and that I might indeed 

22 meet with some worse accident. 



23 SOLUTION OF TWO QUESTIONS. 

24 The first from among the old men | opened the book | of the 

25 Minos. | It was a large book | which was usually kept [laws of 

26 enclosed | in a casket of gold | with perfumes. 

27 All the old men | kissed it | with respect ; | for 

23 they say, | that after the gods, | from whom the good laws 

29 come, | nothing ought to be | so sacred to men 

30 as the laws | destined to make them good, | wise, and 

31 happy. | Those who are charged | with the execution of the 

32 laws | for the government of men | should always 

6 



62 FIRST LESSONS IN FKENCK, 

1 se laisser gouverner | par les bis. \ C'est ta k>§ 

2 et non pas 1'homme [ qui doit regner. \ Tel etait 

3 le discours de ces Sages. [ — -Celui qui presidait 

4 proposa trois questions, [ qui devaient etre decidees 

5 par les maximes j de Minos. | La premiere question; 

6 fut : | Quel est le plus libre J d'entre les hommesl 

7 Les uns repondirent [ que c^etak un roi | qui avait 

8 un empire absolu | sur ses sujets, | et qui etait 

9 victorieux | de tous ses ennemis. | D'autres soutinreni 

10 que c'etait \ un homme si riche [ qu'il pouvait 

11 eontenter tous ses desirs. | D'autres dirent | que c'etait 

12 un bomme | qui n' etait pas marie, [■ et qui voyageait 

13 pendant toute sa vie | en divers pays, | sans etre jamais 

14 assujeMi aux lois | d'aucune nation. [ D'autres 

15 s'imaginerent | que c'etait un barbare, | qui, vivant 

16 de sa chasse | au milieu des bois, | etait independant 

17 de tout gouvernement | et de tout besoin. | D'autres 

18 crurent | que c'etait un bomme | nouvellement afTranchi; 

19 parce qu'en sortant [ des rigueurs [ de la servitude, 

20 il jouissait, | plus qu'aucun autre, [ des douceurs de 

21 la liberte. | Et enlin d'autres | s'aviserent de dire 

22 que c'etait un homme mourant, [ parce que la mort 

23 le delivrait de tout, | et que tous les bommes 

24 ensemble | n'avaient plus [ aucun pouvoir | sur luL 

25 Quand mon tour [ fut venu | je n'eus pas de peine 

26 a repondre, | parce que je n'avais pas oublie | ce que 

27 Mentor | m'avait dit souvent. | Le plus libre des 

28 hommes, dis-je, | est celui qui 

29 peut etre libre | dans l'esclavage meme. | En quelque 

30 pays, | ou en quelque condition | qu'on soit, | on es$ 

31 tres-libre, | pourvu qu'on craiguc | les dieux, | et 

32 qu'on ne craigne qu'eux. | En un mot, | l'homme 

33 vraiment libre, | est celui qui, | degage de toute 

34 crainte | et de tous desirs, | n'est soumis qu'aux dieux 

35 et a sa raison, | Les vieillards s'entre-regarderent 



FIfcST LESSORS IN PKEXCR. $3 

1 suffer themselves to be governed | by the laws. | It is the law 

2 and not the man j that ought to reign. | Such was 
2 the discourse of those Sages. ] He who presided 

4 proposed three questions, \ which were to be decided 

5 by the maxims j of Minos. \ The first question 

6 was : | Who is most free | among men 1 

7 Some answered ] that it was a king ] who had 

8 an absolute empire \ over his subjects, j and who was 

9 victorious | over all his enemies. J Others maintained 

10 that it was | a man so rich | that he was able 

11 to content all his wishes. | Others said { that it was 

12 a man | who was not married, \ and who travelled 

13 all his life j in different countries, \ without ever being 

14 subjected to the laws j of any nation, j Others 

15 imagined \ that it was a barbarian j who, living 

16 upon his chase j in the middle of woods, | was independent 

17 of all government j and of all want. | Others 

18 thought j that it was a man | lately enfranchised; 

19 because in coming out | from the rigors J of servitude, 

20 he enjoyed \ more than any other J the sweets of 

21 liberty. | And in fine, others j fancied to say 

22 that it was a dying man, | because death 

23 delivered him from every thing, | and because all men, 

24 united, | had no longer | any power \ over him. 

25 When my turn j was come j I had no difficulty 

26 in answering, \ because I had not forgotten | what 

27 Mentor ] had often told me. J The freest of 

28 men, said I, j is he who 

29 can be free j even in slavery. ] In whatever 

30 country, | or in whatever condition j one may be, ] he is 

31 very free, j provided he fears j the gods, J and 

32 fears only them. J In a word, ] the man 

33 truly free, ] is he who, j free from all 

34 fear, | and all desires, j is subject only to the gods, 

35 and his reason. | The fathers looked upon each other 



64 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 en souriant, | et furent surpris de voir | que ma reponse 

2 fut precisement | celle de Minos. 

3 lis proposerent ensuite | la seconde question | en 

4 ces termes : | Quel est le plus malheureux 

5 de tous les hommes ? | Chacun disait 

6 ce qui lui venait dans l'esprit. | L'un disait : | C'est un homme 

7 qui n'a ni biens, | ni sante, | ni honneur. | Un autre 

8 disait : ] C'est un homme | qui n'a aucun ami. 

9 D'autres soutenaient | que c'etait un homme j qui a 

10 des enfants ingrats | et indignes de lui. | II vint 

11 un sage, | de Pile de Lesbos, | qui dit : | Le plus 

12 malheureux des hommes | est celui qui | croit l'etre; 

13 car le malheur ] depend moins | de ce qu'on souffre, 

14 que de l'impatience | avec laquelle | on augmente 

15 son malheur. | A ces mots | toute l'assemblee 

16 se recria : | on applaudit, j et chacun crut 

17 qu'il remporterait le prix | sur cette question. 

18 Mais on me demanda | ma pensee, | et je repondis, 

19 suivant les maximes | de Mentor: | Le plus 

20 malheureux des hommes | est un roi [ qui croit etre 

21 heureux | en rendant | les autres hommes miserables. 

22 II est doublement malheureux j par son aveuglement j 

23 car ne connaissant pas | son malheur, 

24 il ne peut s'en guerir ; | il craint meme 

25 de le connaitre. | La verite ne peut | percer la foule 

26 des flatteurs | pour aller jusqu'a lui. | It est 

27 tyrannise par ses passions ; | il ne connait pas ses 

28 devoirs ; | il n'a jamais goute | le plaisir de faire 

29 le bien, | ni senti les charmes | de la vertu : | il est 

30 malheureux | et digne de l'etre; | son malheur 

31 augmente chaque jour ; | il court a sa perte ; | et les 

32 dieux j lui preparent | des punitions eternelles. 

33 Toute l'assemblee | avoua | que j'avais vaincu | le 

34 sage Lesbien ; | et les vieillards | declarerent que 

35 j'avais rencontre | le vrai sens | de Minos, 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 65 

1 smiling, | and were surprised to see | that my answer 

2 was precisely | that of Minos. 

3 They proposed afterwards J the second question | in 

4 these terms : | Who is the most unfortunate 

5 of all men ? | Every one said 

6 what came to his mind, j One said : | It is a man 

7 who has neither property, | nor health, | nor honor. | An- 

8 said : | It is a man | who has no friend. [other 

9 Others maintained | that it was a man | who has 

10 children ungrateful | and unworthy of him. j There came 

11 a sage, | a native of Lesbos, ] who said: | The most 

12 unhappy of men ) is he who | thinks himself so; 

13 for unhappiness | depends less | on what one suffers, 

14 than on the impatience | with which | he increases 

15 his unhappiness. { At these words j the whole assembly 

16 cried out: | they applauded, j and each one believed 

17 that he would win the prize j on this question. 

18 But they asked me | my thought, | and I answered, 

19 agreeably to the maxims j of Mentor : | The most 

20 unhappy of men | is a king | who fancies to be 

21 happy | in rendering | the other men miserable. 

22 He is doubly unhappy | for his blindness ; 

23 for, not knowing | his wretchedness, 

24 he cannot be cured of it ; | he even fears 

25 to know it. | Truth cannot | pierce the crowd 

26 of flatterers | to reach him. | He is 

27 a slave to his own passions ; | he does not know his 

28 duties ; | he has never tasted | the pleasure of doing 

29 good, | nor felt the charms | of virtue: j he is 

30 unhappy | and deserves to be so ; | his unhappiness 

31 increases every day ; | he runs to ruin ; | and the 

32 gods j prepare for him j eternal punishments. 

33 All the assembly | confessed | that I had vanquished | the 

34 wise Lesbian ; | and the fathers | declared that 

35 I had met | the true sense | of Minos. 

6* 



66 FIKST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

LE SULTAN MAHMOUD. 

1 Mahmoud, | par ses guerres | au dehors | et sa tyrannie 

2 au dedans, | avait rempli | ses etats | de ruine | et de 

3 desolation, | et avait depeuple | Tempi re persan. 

4 Le vizir, | c'est-a-dire, | le premier ministre | de ce 

5 grand Sultan, j qui etait un plaisant | ou un enthousiaste 

6 pretendait avoir appris | d'un certain derviche, ou 

7 religieux Musulman, | a comprendre | le langage | des 

8 oiseaux ; | de sorte qu' | il n'y avait pas | un oiseau 

9 qui put ouvrir le bee, | sans que le vizir sut | ce qu'il 

10 disait. | Comme il etait | un soir | avec 1'empereur, 

11 a leur retour | de la chasse, | ils virent une couple | de 

12 hiboux j sur un arbre | qui croissait | pres d'un vieux mur 

13 dans un monceau | de decombres. | Je voudrais bien savoir, 

14 dit le Sultan, | ce que ces deux hiboux | disent ; 

15 ecoutez leur discours, | et rendez-m'en compte. 

16 Le vizir | s'approcha de l'arbre, | feignant d'etre 

17 tres-attentif | aux deux hiboux. | A son retour | aupres du 

18 Sultan : | Seigneur, dit-il, | j'ai entendu | une partie 

19 de leur conversation, j maisjen'ose | vousdire | cequee'est, 

20 Le Sultan | ne se contenta pas | d'une telle reponse, 

21 mais il le forca, | a repeter mot a mot | tout ce que les 

22 hiboux | avaient dit. | — II faut done que vous sachiez, 

23 dit le vizir, | qu'un de ces hiboux | a un fils, | et l'autre 

24 une fille, | et qu'ils desirent les marier. 

25 J'ai compris que le pere du fils | disait au pere de la 

26 fille : | Frere, je consens a ce mariage, | pourvu que 

27 vous donniez a votre fille | cinquante villages ruines 

28 pour sa dot. | A quoi l'autre | repliqua : 

29 Au lieu de cinquante | je lui en donnerai cinq cents, 

30 si vous voulez. | Que Dieu accorde | une longue vie 

31 au Sultan Mahmoud ; | tant qu'il regnera | sur nous, 

32 nous ne manquerons jamais de | villages ruines. — 

33 Le Sultan | ordonna de rebatir | les villes et les villages. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 67 

THE SULTAN MAHMOUD. 

1 Mahmoud, | by his wars | abroad | and his tyranny 

2 at home, | had filled | his dominions | with ruin | and 

3 desolation, | and had depopulated | the Persian empire. 

4 The vizier, | that is to say, | the prime minister | to this 

5 great Sultan, | who was a humorist, | or an enthusiast, 

6 pretended to have learned | of a certain dervis, or 

7 Mahometan monk, | to understand | the language | of 

8 birds ; | so that | there was not | a bird, 

9 that could open his mouth, | but the vizier knew | what he 

10 said. | As he was | one evening | with the emperor, 

11 at their return | from hunting, | they saw a couple | of 

12 owls, | on a tree, | that grew | near an old wall 

13 out of a heap | of rubbish, j I would fain know, 

14 said the Sultan, | what those two owls j are saying; 

15 listen to their discourse, | and give me an account of it. 

16 The vizier | approached the tree, | pretending to be 

17 very attentive | to the two owls. ] Upon his return | to the 

18 Sultan: | Sir, said he, | I have heard j part 

19 of their conversation, | but I dare not | tell you | what it is. 

20 The Sultan | was not satisfied | with such an answer, 

21 but he forced him, | to repeat word for word, | all that the 

22 owls | had said. | — You must know then, 

23 said the vizier, | that one of these owls | has a son, | and 

24 a daughter, | and they wish to marry them. [the other 

25 I understood that the father of the son | said to the father of the 

26 daughter : | Brother, | I consent to this marriage, | provided 

27 you will settle upon your daughter | fifty ruined villages 

28 for her portion. | To which the other | replied : 

29 Instead of fifty | I will give her five hundred, 

30 if you please. | God grant | a long life 

31 to the Sultan Mahmoud ; ] whilst he reigns | over us, 

32 we shall never want | ruined villages. — 

33 The Sultan I ordered to rebuild I the towns and villages 



68 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 qui avaient ete detruits, | et que | depuis ce temps, 

2 il consul ta | le bien de son peuple. 



3 EPISODE D' IDOMENEE. 

4 Idomenee, | fils de Deucalion | et petit-fils de Minos, 

5 etait alle | comme les autres rois | de la Grece | au siege 

6 de Troie. \ Apres la ruine | de cette ville, | il fit voile 

7 pour revenir en Crete ; | mais la tempete | fut si 

8 violente, | que le pilote [ de son vaisseau, | et tous les 

9 autres j qui etaient experimented j dans la navigation, 

10 crurent | que leur naufrage j etait inevitable. 

11 Chacun avait la mort | devant les yeux; | chacun 

12 voyait j les abimes ouverts | pour 1'engloutir, j chacun 

13 deplorait | son malheur, j n'esperant pas meme 

14 le triste repos | des ombres qui traversent | le Styx 

15 apres avoir recu | la sepulture. | Idomenee, levant 

16 les yeux | et les mains | vers le ciel, | invoquait Neptune. 

17 O puissant Dieu | s'ecriait-il, ] toi qui tiens | Pempire 

18 des ondes, | daigne ecouter | un malheureux: | si je revois 

19 1'ile de Crete | malgre la fureur | des vents, 

20 je t'immolerai | la premiere tete | qui se presentera 

21 a mes yeux. | Cependant j son fils | impatient de 

22 revoir | son pere, j se hatait | d'aller au devant de lui 

23 pour Tembrasser : | malheureux, j qui ne savait pas 

24 que c'etait | courir a sa perte ! | Le pere echappe 

25 a la tempete j arrivait dans le port desire ; | il remerciait 

26 Neptune | d'avoir ecoute ses voeux : | mais bientot il 

27 sentit | combien ses voeux lui etaient funestes. | Un 

28 pressentiment | de son malheur | lui donnaii 

20 un cuisant repentir | de son voeu indiscret ; | il craignait 

30 d'arriver | parmi les siens, | et il apprehendait de revoir 

31 ce qu'il avait de plus cher | au monde. | Mais la cruelle 

32 Nemesis | deesse impitoyable | qui veille | pour punir 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 69 

1 which had been destroyed, | and that | since that time, 

2 he consulted | the good of his people. 



3 EPISODE OF IDOMENEUS. 

4 Idomeneus, | son of Deucalion, | and grandson of Minos, 

5 had gone, | as the other kings | of Greece, | to the siege 

6 of Troy. | After the ruin | of that city, | he set sail 

7 to return to Crete ; | but the tempest | was so 

8 violent, | that the pilot | of his vessel, | and all the 

9 others | who had experience | in navigation, 

10 thought | that their shipwreck j was unavoidable. 

11 Every one had death | before his eyes; | every one 

12 saw | the abyss opened | to swallow him up. | Every one 

13 deplored | his misfortune, | hoping not even for 

14 the sad repose | of the shades that cross | the Styx 

15 after having received | sepulture. | Idomeneus, raising 

16 his eyes | and hands | towards heaven, | invoked Neptune. 

17 powerful god! | exclaimed he, | thou who holdest | the empire 

18 of the waves, | deign to hear | an unfortunate man: | if I see again 

19 the island of Crete, | notwithstanding the fury | of the winds, 

20 I will immolate to thee | the first head | that will present itself 

21 to my eyes. | However, | his son, | impatient 

22 to see again | his father, | hastened | to go to meet him, 

23 to embrace him ; | unhappy youth, | who did not know 

24 that he was | running to his ruin ! | The father, escaping 

25 the tempest [ arrived in the desired port ; | he thanked 

26 Neptune | for having listened to his vows : | but he soon 

27 felt | how fatal his vows were to him. | A 

28 presentiment | of his misfortune | gave him 

29 a smarting repentance | of his indiscreet vow ; | he feared 

30 to arrive | among his people, | and he apprehended to see again 

31 what he held most dear | in the world. | But the cruel 

32 Nemesis, | unmerciful goddess, | who watches | to punish 



70 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 les hommes, { et surtout | les rois orgueilleux | poussait 

2 Idomenee j (Tune main fatale et invisible. | II arrive: 

3 a peine ose-t-il j lever les yeux. | II voit son flls: 

4 il recule, j saisi d'horreur. ] Ses yeux cherchent, 

5 mais en vain, j quelqu'autre tete J moins chere 

6 qui puisse | lui servir de victime. j Cependant 

7 le flls se jette j a son cou, j et est | tout etonne 

8 que son pere j reponde si mal | a sa tendresse ; 

9 il le voit j fondant en larmes. j Oh ! mon pere, | dit il, 

10 d'ou vient cette tristesse? | Apres une si longue absence 

11 etes vous fache | de vous revoir j dans votre royaume, 

12 et de faire la joie j de votre fils? | Qu'ai-je fait? | Vous 

13 detournez vos yeux, | de peur de me voir ! | Le pere 

14 accable de douleur j ne repondit rien. j Enfin, apres 

15 de profonds soupirs: j "Ah! Neptune, | que t'ai-je promis ! 

16 a quel prix | m'as-tu garanti j du naufrage ! | rends-moi 

17 aux vagues | et aux rochers | qui devaient, | en me brisant, 

18 fitiir ma triste vie; | laisse vivre mon fils. | O dieu cruel ! 

19 tiens, j voila mon sang, j epargne le sien. | En parlant 

20 ainsi | ii tira son epee | pour se percer ; | mais ceux qui 

21 etaient | autour de lui | arreterent sa main. 

22 Le vieillard Sophronime, j interprete de la volonte 

23 des dieux, | Itii assura | qu'ii pourrait contenter 

24 Neptune, \ sans donner la mort j a son fils. | Votre promess ? 

25 disait-ii, j a ete imprudente : | les dieux ne veulent pas 

26 etre honores | par la cruaute ; | gardez-vous bien d'ajouter 

27 a la faute de votre promesse | celle de l'accomplir 

28 centre les lois | de la nature. ] Offrez a Neptune 

29 centtaureaux | plus blancs que la neige; 

30 faites couler leur sang j autour de son autel | couronne 

31 de fleurs; | faites fumer un doux encens | en l'honneur 

32 de ce dieu. j Idomenee | ecoutait ce discours 

33 la fete baissee | et sans repondre ; | la fureur etait allumee 

34 dans ses yeux ; | son visage | pale et defigure | changeait 

35 a tout moment ; | on voyait ses membres tremblants. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH, 71 

1 men, | and especially | proud kings, | pushed 

2 Idomeneus | with a fatal and invisible hand. | He arrives : 

3 scarcely does he dare | raise his eyes. | He sees his son ; 

4 he starts back, | seized with horror. | His eyes seek 

5 but in vain | some other head | less dear, 

6 that might | serve him as a victim. | However, [ished 

7 the son throws himself | on his neck j and is j quite aston- 

8 that his father | answers so ill | to his tenderness : 

9 he sees him | melting into tears. | Oh ! my father, | said he, 

10 whence comes this sadness? | After so long an absence, 

11 are you sorry | to see yourself again | in your kingdom, 

12 and to make the joy | of your son? | What have I done? | You 

13 turn away your eyes, ) for fear of seeing me. | The father, 

14 overwhelmed with grief, | answered nothing. | -In fine, after 

15 deep sighs : | "Ah! Neptune, | what have I promised thee? 

16 at what price|hast thou saved mejfrom shipwreck? j return me 

17 to the waves, | and to the rocks | that were, | by crushing me, 

18 to finish my sad life ; | suffer my son to live. | O cruel god ! 

19 hold, | here is my blood, | spare his. | In speaking 

20 thus | he drew his sword | to pierce himself; [ but those who 

21 were | around him | stopped his hand. 

22 The venerable Sophronimus, | interpreter of the will 

23 of the gods, | assured him | that he could content 

24 Neptune, | without killing | his son. | Your promise, 

25 said he, | was imprudent : | the gods do not wish 

26 to be honored | by cruelty ; | take great care not to add 

27 to the fault of your promise | that of accomplishing it 

28 against the laws | of nature. | Offer to Neptune 

29 a hundred bulls, | whiter than snow ; 

30 cause their blood to flow | round his altar, | crowned 

31 with flowers ; | make a sweet incense smoke | in honor 

32 of this god. | Idomeneus | listened to this discourse [died 

33 with his head cast down, | without answering ; | fury was kin- 

34 in his eyes ; | his face, | pale and disfigured, | changed 

35 everv moment ; I his limbs were seen trembling 



72 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 Cependant | son fils lui disait: | me voici, | mon pere, 

2 votre fils | est pret a mourir | pour apaiser le dieu ; 

3 n'attirez pas sur vous | sa colere : | je meurs content, 

4 puisque ma mort | vous aura garanti de la votre. 

5 Frappez, | mon pere, | ne craignez point de trouver | en 

6 moi | un fils indigne de vous, | qui craigne de mourir. 

7 En ce moment | Idomenee | tout hors de lui | et 

8 comme dechire | par les furies infernales | surprend 

9 tous ceux | qui l'observaient de pres ; | il enfonce son 

10 epee | dans le coeur | de cet enfant : | il la retire 

11 toute fumante | et pleine de sang | pour la plonger 

12 dans son propre sein : | il est encore une fois 

13 retenu par ceux | qui Penvironnent. 

14 L'enfant tombe | dans son sang ; | ses yeux se couvrent 

15 des ombres de la mort ; | il les entr' ouvre | a 

16 la lumiere; | mais a peine | Pa-t-il trouvee | qu'il 

17 ne peut plus la supporter. | Tel qu'un beau lis 

18 au milieu des champs, | coupe dans sa racine | par le 

19 tranchant | de la charrue, | languit | et ne se soutient plus; 

20 il n'a pas encore perdu | cette vive blancheur, | et cet eclat 

21 qui charme les yeux, | mais la terre | ne le nourrit plus, 

22 et sa vie est eteinte : | ainsi le fils d'Idomenee, | comme 

23 une jeune et tendre fleur, | est cruellement moissonne 

24 des son premier age. 

25 Le pere, | dans l'exces [ de sa douleur, | devient insensible ; 

26 il ne sait ou il est, | ni ce qu'il fait, | ni ce qu'il 

27 doit faire ; | il marche chancelant j vers la ville, | et 

28 demande son fils. 

29 Cependant le peuple, | touche de compassion | pour 

30 l'enfant, | et d'horreur | pour Paction barbare | du pere 

31 s'ecrie | que les dieux justes | Pont livre | aux furies. 

32 La fureur | leur fournit des armes ; | ils prennent 

33 des batons | et des pierres ; | la discorde souffle | dans 

34 tous les coeurs | un venin mortel. | Les Cretois, | les sages 

35 Cretois | oublient la sagesse | qu'ils ont tant aimee ; 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 73 

1 Meanwhile | his son told him : | behold me, | my father, 

2 your son, | is ready to die | to appease the god ; 

3 do not draw upon you | his anger : | I die contented, 

4 since my death | will have prevented yours. 

5 Strike, | my father, | be not afraid to find | in 

6 me | a son unworthy of you | who fears to die. 

7 At this moment, | Idomeneus, | quite beside himself, | and 

8 as if torn | by the infernal furies, | surprises 

9 all those | who observed him closely ; | he thrusts his 

10 sword | into the heart | of this child : | he draws it out, 

11 all reeking [ and full of blood, | to plunge it 

12 into his own breast : | he is once more 

13 prevented by those | who surround him. 

14 The child falls | in his blood ; | his eyes are covered 

15 by the shades of death ; | he half opens them | to 

16 the light; | but scarcely | has he found it | when he 

17 can no longer bear it. | As a fine lily 

IS in the midst of the fields, | cut in its root | by the [longer; 

19 edge | of the plough, | languishes | and supports itself no 

20 it has not yet lost | that lively whiteness, | and that lustre 

21 which charms the eyes, | but the earth | nourishes it no more, 

22 and its life is extinguished : | thus the son of Idomeneus, | like 

23 a young and tender flower, | is cruelly cut off 

24 in his early age. 

25 The father, | in the excess | of his grief, | becomes insensible; 

26 he knows not where he is, | nor what he is doing, | nor what he 

27 is to do ; | he walks tottering | towards the town, | and 

28 asks for his son. 

29 However, the people, | touched with compassion | for 

30 the child, | and horror | for the barbarous action | of the father, 

31 exclaim | that the just gods | have given him up | to the furies. 

32 Rage | furnishes them with arms; | they take 

33 sticks | and stones ; | discord infuses | into 

34 every heart | a mortal venom. | The Cretans, | the wise 

35 Cretans | forget that wisdom | which they loved so much ; 

7 



74 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 ils ne reconnaissent plus | Ie petit-fils du sage Minos. 

2 Les amis d'Idomenee | ne trouvent plus de salut 

3 pour lui. | qu'en le ramenant | vers ses vaisseaux : 

4 ils s'embarquent | avec lui ; | ils fuient | a la merci 

5 des ondes. j Idomenee | revenant a soi | les remercie 

6 de l'avoir arrache | d'une terre | qu'il a arrosee 

7 du sang de son fils, | et qu'il ne saurait plus habiter. 

8 Les vents les conduisent | vers l'Hesperie, | et ils 

9 vont fonder | un nouveau royaume | dans le pays 
10 des Salentins. 



11 LE RAT DE VILLE ET LE RAT DES CHAMPS. 

12 Un rat de ville | alia un jour j faire une visite | a un 

13 rat des champs, | un de ses amis. | Je suis bien 

14 aise | de vous voir, | dit le dernier : | j'espere que vous 

15 dinerez [ aujourd'hui avec moi. | Volon tiers, | dit le 

16 premier, | je suis las | de la bonne chere J que je fa is 

17 a la ville. | Le rat des champs court, | et apporte du lard, 

18 et quelques petits morceaux | d'un fromage pourri ; 

19 c'etait tout ce qu'il avait; | il etait pauvre. | Le 

20 rat de ville | ne mangeait presque rien ; | il etait 

21 accoutume | a faire meilleure chere. | Le repas etant 

22 fini : | Venez ce soir | souper avec moi | a la ville, 

23 dit-il, | a son camarade : | vous verrez | la difference 

24 qu'il y a | entre mes repas | et les votres. | En verite, 

25 mon cher ami, | je vous plains | tres-sincerement ; 

26 je ne sais pas comment | vous ne mourez pas de faim : 

27 je vous engage | a rester a la ville | avec moi : 

28 mon trou | est a votre service; | vous y vivrez tres-bien; 

29 ma table | sera la votre, | et vous ferez toujours bonne 

30 chere. | J'accepte votre invitation, | dit le rat des champs; 

31 il me tarde d'etre | votre commensal. | Les deux 

32 amis partent, | et arrivent | vers minuit | a une grande 

33 maison. | Le rat de ville conduit | son camarade 



FIKST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 75 

1 they no longer recognise | the grandson of the wise Minos. 

2 The friends of Idomeneus, | find no longer any safety 

3 for him, | but in taking him back | to his vessels : 

4 they embark | with him ; | they flee | at the mercy 

5 of the waves. | Idomeneus, | having recovered, | thanks them 

6 for having forced him | from a land | which he stained 

7 with the blood of his son, | and which he could no longer in- 

8 The winds waft them | towards Hesperia, | and they [habit. 

9 go to found | a new kingdom | in the country 
10 of the Salentines. 



11 THE CITY RAT AND THE COUNTRY RAT. 

12 A city rat | went one day | to pay a visit | to a 

13 country rat, | a friend of his. | I am very 

14 glad | to see you, | said the latter: | I hope that you 

15 will dine | with me to-day. | Willingly, | said the 

16 former, | I am tired | of the good cheer | which I make 

17 in the city. | The country rat runs, | and brings bacon, 

18 and some little pieces | of a rotten cheese; 

19 it was all he had ; | he was poor. | The 

20 city rat | ate scarcely any thing : | he was 

21 accustomed | to make better cheer. | The repast being 

22 over : | Come this evening | to sup with me ] in town, 

23 said he | to his comrade : | you will see | the difference 

24 there is | between my meals | and yours. | Indeed, 

25 my dear friend, | I pity you | very sincerely ; 

26 I do not know how | you do not die with hunger ; 

27 I invite you | to remain in town | with me : 

28 my hole | is at your service ; | you will live very well there ; 

29 my table | will be yours, | and you will always make good 

30 cheer. | I accept your invitation, | said the country rat ; 

31 I long to be | your table companion. | The two 

32 friends set out, | and arrive | towards midnight | at a large 

33 house. | The city rat conducts | his comrade 



76 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 dans un beau salon, | etale devant lui, | sur le coin 

2 d'un tapis de Perse, | !es mets les plus friands, 

3 poulet, dindon, &c. | Frere, | comment trouvez-vous 

4 ce roti? | N'est-il pas bien tendre? | Que pensez-vous 

5 de ce pate de pigeons ? | Avouez que | vous 

6 ne faites jamais | de si bons repas | a la campagne. 

7 Pendant qu'il faisait ainsi | l'eloge de ses mets, 

8 sans donner le temps | a son camarade | d'avaler 

9 un morceau, | un domestique ouvre la porte : | Adieu 

10 nos rats ! | ils decampent | aussi vite qu'ils peuvent. 

11 Le rat des champs | se cache | dans un coin; | il 

12 tremblait | de tous ses membres, | et maudissait 

13 cent fois, | ami, roti, pate. | Le rat de ville 

14 n'etait pas si craintif ; | il etait en surete | dans son 

15 trou : | il avait oublie j de le montrer | a son ami. 

16 Cependant le domestique | se retire : | le rat de ville 

17 reparait aussitot, | et rappelle son camarade. 

18 Venez, venez, | le danger est passe | pour le reste 

19 de la nuit : | finissons notre repas, | et puis nous aurons 

20 pour notre dessert, | du fruit delicieux, ( des noisettes | et 

21 des chataignes. | Je vous remercie, | dit le rat des champs 

22 encore effraye : | adieu, | il faut que je retourne 

23 au logis. | Je n'envie pas | l'abondance, | ni la delicatesse 

24 de vos repas : | je prefere | mes grignons | a vos 

25 friandises. | Fi du plaisir | que la crainte | peut 

26 corrompre! 

27 Une fortune mediocre, | avec la paix | et 

28 le contentement, | est preferable | a l'abondance 

29 accompagnee | de soins [ et de crainte. 



30 CONTE ORIENTAL. 

31 Sous le regne | d'un roi de Perse, | dont j'ai oublie le nom, 

32 un marchand de Bassora, | fut ruine | par de mauvaises 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 77 

1 into a fine saloon, | displays before him, | on the corner 

2 of a Persian carpet, | the most dainty dishes, 

3 chicken, turkey, &c. | Brother, | how do you find 

4 this roast meat ? | Is it not very tender ? | What think you 

5 of this pigeon pie ? | Confess that | you 

6 never make | so good repasts | in the country. 

7 Whilst he was thus making | the eulogy of his dishes, 

8 without giving time | to his comrade | to swallow 

9 a morsel, | a servant opens the door : j Farewell to 

10 our rats ! | They decamp | as fast as they can. 

11 The country rat | hides himself | in a corner; | he 

12 was trembling | in all his limbs, | and cursed 

13 a hundred times, | friend, roast meat, pie. | The city rat 

14 was not so afraid ; | he was in safety | in his 

15 hole : | he had forgotten | to show it | to his friend. 

16 In the mean while the servant | retires : ( the city rat 

17 re-appears immediately, | and recalls his comrade. 

18 Come, come, J the danger is over | for the rest 

19 of the night : | let us end our repast, | and then we shall have 

20 for our dessert, | delicious fruit, | hazelnuts | and 
-21 chestnuts. | I thank you, | said the country rat, 

22 still frightened : | Adieu, | I must return 

23 home. | I do not envy | the abundance, | nor the delicacy 

24 of your repasts : | I prefer | my bits of crusts | to your 

25 dainties, j Fie upon the pleasure | which fear | can 

26 corrupt ! 

27 A middling fortune, | with peace | and 

28 contentment, | is preferable | to abundance 

29 accompanied | by cares | and fear. 



30 AN EASTERN TALE. 

31 Under the reign | of a king of Persia, | whose name I have for- 

32 a merchant | ofBassora | was ruined | by bad [gotten, 



78 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 speculations. | II recueillit | les debris | de sa fortune, 

2 et se retira | au fond | de la province | de Kousistan. 

3 La il acheta | une petite maison de campagne, 

4 et un champ, | qu'ii cultiva | fort-mal, | parce qu'il 

5 pensait toujours | aux agrements | de son ancienne 

6 profession. | Le chagrin abregea | les jours de ce 

7 marchand. | Se sentant | pres de sa fin, | il appela 

8 aupres de lui | quatre fils | qu'il avait, | et il leur parla 

9 ainsi : | Mes chers enfants, | je n'ai d'autre bien 

10 a vous laisser | que cette maison, | et la connaissance 

11 d'un secret | que je n'ai pas juge a propos | de vous reveler 

12 plus-tot. | Dans le temps | de mon opulence | j'avais 

13 pour ami | le genie Alzim. | II me promit | d'avoir soin 

14 de vous | quand je ne serais plus, | et de partager 

15 un tresor | parmi vous. | Ce genie | demeure pres d'ici, 

16 dans la foret de K. | Allez le trouver, | demandez-lui 

17 ce tresor, | mais | gardez-vous bien de croire. . . . 

18 La mort | ne lui permit pas | d'achever. | Les quatre 

19 fils du marchand, | apres avoir pleure | et enterre 

20 leur pere, j allerent a la foret de K. | lis s'informerent 

21 de la demeure | du genie Alzim. j lis n'eurent pas de peine 

22 a la trouver. | Alzim etait connu | de tout le pays : 

23 il accueillait | avec bonte | tons ceux | qui venaient 

24 le voir, | il ecoutait | leurs plaintes, | les consolait, 

25 leur pretait | de l'argent, [ quand ils en avaient besoin ; 

26 mais ces bienfaits | etaient accordes | a une condition, 

27 les conseils | qu'il donnait | devaient etre suivis 

28 aveuglement : | nul n'etait admis | dans son palais 

29 avant d'avoir | prete serment | de se soumettre 

30 a cette condition. | Ce serment | n'effraya pas 

31 les trois fils aines | du marchand : | le quatrieme 

32 qui se nommait Tai, | trouva | cette ceremonie 

33 ridicule. | Cependant | il voulait entrer | et recevoir 

34 le tresor : | il jura done | comme ses freres ; | mais 

35 reflechissant | aux dangereuses consequences | de 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 79 

1 speculations. | He collected | the wrecks | of his fortune, 

2 and retired | to the remotest part ] of the province | of Kou- 

3 There he bought | a small country-house, [sistan. 

4 and a field, | which he cultivated | very badly, | because he 

5 was always thinking | of the advantages | of his former 

6 profession. | Grief shortened | the days of this 

7 merchant. | Feeling himself | near his end, | he called 
■8 to him | four sons | whom he had, | and spoke to them 
9 thus : | My dear children, | I have no other property 

10 to leave you | but this house, | and the knowledge 

11 of a secret ] which I did not think proper | to reveal to you 
J 2 sooner, j In the time | of my opulence | I had 

13 for a friend | the genius Alzim. | He promised me | to take 

14 of you | when I should be no more, | and to divide [care 

15 a treasure | amongst you. | This genius | lives close by, 

16 in the forest of K. | Go to him, | ask him for 

17 that treasure, | but | take care not to believe. . . . 

18 Death | did not allow him | to finish. | The four 

19 sons of the merchant, | after having bewailed | and buried 

20 their father, | went to the forest of K. | They inquired 

21 for the residence | of the genius Alzim. | They had no trouble 

22 to find it. | Alzim was known | throughout the country : 

23 he received | kindly | all those | w T ho came [them, 

24 to see him, | he listened to | their complaints, | consoled 

25 lent them | money, | when they were in want of it; 

26 but these favors | were granted | on one condition ; 

27 the advice | which he gave | was to be followed 

28 blindly : | none was admitted | into his palace 

29 before having | taken oath | to submit himself 

30 to that condition. | That oath | did not frighten 

31 the three eldest sons | of the merchant : | the fourth 

32 who called himself Tai, | found | that ceremony 

33 ridiculous. | However, | he wished to go in, | and receive 

34 the treasure : | he then swore | like his brothers ; | but 

35 reflecting | on the dangerous consequences | of 



80 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 ce serment indiscret, | se rappelant | que son pere, 

2 qui avait coutume | de visiter ce palais, | avait passe 

3 sa vie | a faire des sottises, | il voulut, | sans etre 

4 parjure, | se mettre a l'abri | de tout danger : | et 

5 tandis qu'on le conduisait | vers le genie, | il se boucha 

6 les oreilles | avec de la cire odoriferante. | Ayant 

7 pris | cette precaution, | il se prosterna | devant 

8 le trone d'Alzim. | Alzim dit | aux quatre fils 

9 de son ancien ami | de se lever, | les embrassa, 

10 et ordonna | a des domestiques | d'apporter | un grand 

11 coffre | rempli de pieces d'or. | Voici, dit-il, 

12 le tresor | que je vous destinais. | Je vais le partager 

13 parmi vous, | et ensuite | je dirai a chacun de vous 

14 la route | qu'il doit prendre | pour etre | parfaitement 

15 heureux. | Tai n'entendait pas j ce que le genie 

16 disait, | mais il Pobservait | attentivement, J" et 

17 voyait | dans ses yeux, | et sur son visage j un air de 

18 finesse | et de malignite, | qui lui donnait | beaucoup 

19 d'inquietude. | Cependant | il rec,ut avec 

20 reconnaissance | sa part | du tresor. | Alzim, 

21 apres les avoir ainsi enrichis, | prit un ton affectueux, 

22 et leur dit : | Mes chers enfants, j votre bonne ou 

23 mauvaise destinee | tient a ce que vous rencontriez 

24 tdt ou tard j un certain etre | nomme Bathmendi, 

25 dont | tout le monde parle, | mais que peu de gens 

26 connaissent. J Les malheureux humains | le cherchent 

27 tous a tatons. | Moi qui vous aime, J je vais dire 

28 a chacun de vous | ou il pourra | le trouver. 

29 A ces mots, j Alzim prit en particulier | Bekir, 

30 Paine | des quatre freres. | Mon fils, | lui dit-il, 

31 tu es ne | avec du courage, | et tu as | beaucoup de talent 

32 pour la guerre ; | le roi de Perse | vient d'envoyer 

33 une armee | contre les Turcs ; | entre dans cette armee ; 

34 c'est dans le camp | des Perses | que tu trouveras 

35 Bathmendi. | Bekir | remercia le genie 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 81 

1 that indiscreet oath, | remembering | that his father, 

2 who was in the habit | of visiting this palace, | had spent 

3 his life | in committing blunders, | he wished, | without being 

4 a perjurer, | to secure himself | from all danger : | and 

5 whilst they conducted him | to the genius, | he stopped 

6 his ears | with scented wax. | Having 

7 taken j this precaution, | he prostrated himself | before 

8 the throne of Alzim. | Alzim bid | the four sons 

9 of his ancient friend | to rise, | embraced them, 

10 and ordered | some servants | to bring | a large 

11 chest | filled with gold pieces. | Behold, said he, 

12 the treasure | which I destined for you. 1 1 am going to divide it 

13 amongst you, j and then | I will tell each of you 

14 the road | which he must take | to be | perfectly 

15 happy. | Tai did not hear | what the genius 

16 was saying, | but observed him | attentively, | and 

17 saw | in his eyes, | and on his countenance | an air of 

18 cunning | and malignity, | which gave him | much 

19 uneasiness. | Nevertheless, | he received with 

20 gratitude | his share | of the treasure. | Alzim, 

21 after having thus enriched them, | took an affectionate tone, 

22 and told them : | My dear children, | your good or 

23 bad destiny | depends on your meeting, 

24 sooner or later, | a certain being | called Bathmendi, 

25 of whom | every body speaks, | but whom few people 

26 know. | The wretched mortals | seek him 

27 all in the dark. | I, who love you, | will tell 

28 each of you | where he will be able | to find him. 

29 At these words, | Alzim took aside | Bekir 

30 the eldest | of the four brothers. | My son, | said he to him, 

31 you were born | with courage, | and you have | much talent 

32 for war ; | the king of Persia | has just sent 

33 an army | against the Turks; j. join that army; 

34 it is in the camp | of the Persians | that you will find 

35 Bathmendi. | Bekir | thanked the genius, 






82 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 et devint impatient j de partir. | Alzim fit signe ■,:■ 

2 au second fils [ d' approcher ; | e'etait Mesrou. 

3 Tu as de Pesprit, | lui dit-il, | de l'adresse | et 

4 une grande disposition | au mensonge ; | prends le 

5 chemin d'Ispahan ; | c'est a la cour que | tu dois 

6 chercher Bathmendi. | II appela alors le 

7 troisieme frere | qui s'appelait Sadder. | Toi, lui dit-il, 

8 tu possedes | une imagination vive et feconde, | tu vois 

9 les objets, | non comme ils sont, | mais comme tu veux 

10 qu'ils soient; | tu as souvent du genie, | et pas toujours 

11 le sens commun ; | tu seras poete. | Prends le chemin 

12 d'Agra; | c'est parmi | les beaux esprits | et les belles dames 

13 de cette ville, | que tu trouveras | Bathmendi. | — Tai 

14 s'avanca | a son tour; | et graces | aux boules de cire, 

15 il n'entendit pas | un mot | de ce qu'Alzim | lui disait. — 

1 6 Les quatre freres, | apres avoir remercie | le bienfaisant genie, 

17 retournerent | a leur demeure. | Les trois aines | nerevaient 

18 qu'a Bathmendi. | Tai deboucha | ses oreilles, et 

19 les entendit | arranger leur depart, | et proposer 

20 de vendre | leur petite maison | au premier ofFrant, 

21 pour en partager le prix. [ Tai demanda a etre 

22 l'acquereur. | La maison j et le champ | ayant ete estimes, 

23 il paya de son or | la part qui revenait | a chacun de 

24 ses freres, | leur souhaita | toutes sortes de prosperity, 

25 les embrassa | tendrement, | et resta tout seul | dans la 

26 maison paternelle. | — Ce fut alors | qu'il s'occupa de 

27 l'execution | d'un projet | qui etait depuis long-temps 

28 l'objet | de ses pensees. | II etait amoureux de 

29 la jeune Amine, | fille d'un fermier son voisin 

30 Amine etait | belle et sage. | Elle avait soin | du menage 

31 de son pere, | et ne demandait a Dieu que | deux choses ; 

32 la premiere, | que son pere vecut | long-temps ; | la seconde 

33 qu'elle devint | la femme de Tai. [ Ses souhaits furent 

34 exauces. | Tai demanda | et obtint sa main. 

35 Le pere d'Amine | vint demeurer | chez son gendre, 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 83 

1 and became impatient | to set out. | Alzim beckoned 

2 to the second son [ to come near ; | it was Mesrou. 

3 You have sense, | said he to him, | some address ( and 

4 great aptness | for lying; | take the 

5 road to Ispahan ; | it is at court that | you are 

6 to seek Bathmendi. | He then called the 

7 third brother, | whose name was Sadder. | You, said he to 

8 possess | a lively and fertile imagination, j you see [him, 

9 objects, | not as they are, | but as you wish 

10 them to be; | you often have genius, | and not always 

11 common sense; | you must be a poet. | Take the way 

12 to Agra ; | it is amongst | the wits | and the fine ladies 

13 of that city, J that you will find j Bathmendi. | — Tai 

14 advanced | in his turn ; j and thanks | to the wax balls, 

15 he did not hear | one word | of what Alzim | told him. — 

16 The four brothers, | having thanked ] the beneficent genius, 

17 returned | to their home. | The three eldest | thought 

18 of nothing but Bathmendi. | Tai' unstopped | his ears, and 

19 heard thern | arranging their departure, | and proposing 

20 to sell j their small house | to the first bidder, 

21 in order to share the amount of it. | Tai' asked to be 

22 the purchaser. | The house | and field | having been valued, 

23 he paid with his gold, | the share that came | to each of 

24 his brothers, | wished them | all sorts of prosperity, 

25 embraced them | tenderly, | and remained alone | in the 

26 paternal house. | — It was then | that he set about 

27 the execution | of a project | which had been a long time 

28 the object | of his thoughts. | He was in love with 

29 the young Amina, | the daughter of a neighbouring farmer. 

30 Amina was | handsome and prudent. | She took care | of the 

31 ofher father, | and asked of God only | two things; [household 

32 the first, | that her father should live | long; | the second, 

33 that she should become j Tai's wife. | Her wishes were 

34 granted. | Tai asked | and obtained her hand. 

35 Amina's father | came to live | with his son-in-law, 



84 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 et lui enseigna | I'art de faire rend re a la terre | tout ce qu' 

2 elle peut donner | a ceux | qui la cultivent. | Le 

3 champ doubla de valeur ; | et comme | Tai etait laborieux, 

4 et sa femme econome, | chaque annee | augmenta 

5 leur revenu. | Amine eut j beaucoup d'enfants. 

6 Les enfants, | qui ruinent | les riches oisifs | des villes, 

7 enrichissent | le laboureur. | Au bout de douze ans 

8 Tai, | pere dedix jolis enfants, j epoux d'une femme 

9 bonne et vertueuse, | mattre de | plusieurs esclaves, 

10 et possesseur | de deux troupeaux, | etait le plus heureux 

11 fermier | de sa province. — | Cependant | ses trois freres 

12 couraient apres | Bathmendi. | Bekir etait arrive 

13 au camp des Perses. | II se presenta | au grand vizir, 

14 et demanda a servir | dans le corps | qu'on exposait le plus. 

15 Sa figure, | et sa bonne volonte | plurent au vizir, 

16 qui Padmit | dans un regiment | de cavalerie. 

17 Peu de jours apres, j une bataille sanglante se donna. 

18 Bekir fit des prodiges, | sauva la vie | a son general 

19 et prit | de sa main j le commandant ennemi. 

20 Les louanges de Bekir | retentirent j partout, | et le 

21 vizir reconnaissant | eleva son liberateur | au grade 

22 d'officier general. | Alzim avait raison, | disait 

23 Bekir; | c'est ici | que la fortune | m'attendait; 

24 tout annonce | que je vais trouver | Bathmendi. 

25 La gloire de Bekir, | et surtout | son elevation, | exciterent 

26 l'envie | et les murmures | de tous les satrapes. | Bekir 

27 malheureux | par ses succes memes, | vivait seul, ] toujours 

28 sur ses gardes, | et expose | a tous moments | a recevoir 

29 quelque outrage. | II regrettait | le temps | ou il 

30 n'etait que | simple soldat, | et il attendait | avec 

31 impatience | la fin de la guerre, | quand les Turcs 

32 renforces | par de nouvelles troupes | et guides | par un 

33 nouveau general, | vinrent attaquer | la division que 

34 Bekir commandait. | — C'etait | une occasion | que les 

35 satrapes de l'armee | attendaient depuis long-temps. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 85 

1 and taught him j the art of making the earth yield | all that 

2 it can give ) to those | who cultivate it. | The 

3 field doubled in value ; | and as | Ta'i was industrious, 

4 and his wife saving, | each year | increased 

5 their income. | Amina had | many children. 

6 Children, | who ruin | the rich idle people | of cities, 

7 enrich | the husbandman. | At the end of twelve years, 

8 Tai, | the father of ten pretty children, | the husband of a wife 

9 good and virtuous, | master of | several slaves, 

10 and possessor | of two flocks, | was the most happy 

11 farmer | of his province. — | However | his three brothers 

12 were running after [ Bathmendi. | Bekir had arrived [vizier, 

13 at the camp of the Persians.) He presented himself | to the great 

14 and asked to serve | in the corps | that was the most exposed. 

15 His appearance, | and willingness, | pleased the vizier, 

16 who admitted him | into a regiment | of cavalry. 

17 A few days after, | a bloody battle was fought. 

18 Bekir performed wonders, | saved the life | of his general 

19 and took | with his own hand | the commander of the enemy. 

20 The praises of Bekir | resounded | every where, | and the 

21 vizier, grateful, | raised his deliverer | to the grade 

22 of general officer. [ Alzim was right, | said 

23 Bekir; | it is here | that fortune | awaited me; 

24 every thing shows | that I am going to find | Bathmendi. 

25 — The glory of Bekir, | and especially | his elevation, | excited 

26 the envy | and the murmurs | of all the satraps. | Bekir 

27 unhappy | by his very success, | lived alone, | always 

28 on his guard, | and exposed | every moment | to receive 

29 some affront. | He regretted | the time | when he 

30 was only | a common soldier, | and he was waiting | with 

31 impatience | for the end of the war, j when the Turks, 

32 reinforced | by fresh troops, | and guided | by a 

33 new general, j came to attack | the division which 

34 Bekir commanded. | — It was | an occasion | which the 

35 satraps of the army | had long been waiting for. 



86 FIRST LESSORS IN FRENCH. 

1 lis employerent | cent fois | plus d'adresse 

2 a faire battre leur chef, | qu'ils n'en avaient montre 

3 dans toute leur vie, | pour n'etre pas battus | eux-memes. 

4 Le brave Bekir, | abandonne, | couvert de blessures, 

5 accable sous le nombre, | fut pris | par les janissaires, 

6 et envoye | a Constantinople, | ou il fut jete | dans 

7 un cachot. | Helas ! s'ecriait-il, | dans sa prison, 

8 je commence a penser | qu' Alzim | m'a trompe, 

9 car je ne puis pas esperer | de rencontrer ici Bathmendi. 

10 — La guerre | dura quinze ans, | et les satrapes 

11 empecherent toujours | l'echange de Bekir. 

12 Sa prison ne fut ouverte | qu'a la paix. | II courut 

13 aussitot | a Ispahan | chercher le vizir | son protecteur, 

14 a qui il avait sauve la vie. | Trois semaines s'ecoulerent 

15 avant qu'il put lui parler. | Au bout de ce temps, 

16 il obtint | une audience. | Quinze ans de prison, 

17 changent un peu | la figure | d'un beau jeune homme. 

18 La soufFrance | avait beaucoup altere | les traits de Bekir ; 

19 aussi le vizir | ne le reconnaissait pas. | Cependant | a force 

20 de se rappeler [ les differentes epoques | de sa glorieuse 

21 vie, | il se souvint ] que Bekir | lui avait autrefois rendu 

22 un petit service. | — Oui, oui, mon ami, | lui dit-il, 

23 je vous remets ; | vous etes un brave homme ; | mais I'etat 

24 est bien obere ; | une longue guerre | et de grandes fetes 

25 ont epuise | nos finances ; | cependant | revenez me voir ; 

26 je tacherai, | je verrai. ... | Eh ! Monseigneur, | je n'ai pas 

27 de pain ; | depuis quinze jours | j'attends 

28 le moment favorable | de parler a votre grandeur, et 

29 je serais mort | de misere | sans un soldat | de la garde, 

30 mon ancien camarade, | qui a partage sa paie | avec moi. 

31 C'est fort bien | a ce soldat, | repondit le vizir ; | cela 

32 est vraiment | noble et touchant; | j'en parlerai | au roi, 

33 Revenez me voir ; vous savez que | je vous aime. . . . 

34 En disant ces mots, | il lui tourna le dos. | Bekir 

35 revint le lendemain | mais il trouva | la porte fermee. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 87 

1 They employed | a hundred times | more skill 

2 to get their commander beaten, | than they had shown 

3 in all their lives | to avoid being beaten | themselves. 

4 The brave Bekir, | forsaken, | covered with wounds, 

5 overpowered by numbers, | was taken | by the janissaries, 

6 and sent | to Constantinople, | where he was thrown | into 

7 a dungeon. | Alas ! exclaimed he, | in his prison, 

8 I begin to think | that Alzim | has deceived me, 

9 for I cannot hope | to meet Bathmendi here. 

tO The war | lasted fifteen years, | and the satraps 

11 always prevented j the exchange of Bekir. 

12 His prison was not opened | until peace was made. | He ran 

13 immediately | to Ispahan, | to seek the vizier, | his protector, 

14 whose life he had saved. | Three weeks elapsed 

15 before he could speak to him. | At the end of that time, 

16 he obtained | an audience. | Fifteen years imprisonment 

17 alter considerably | the appearance | of a handsome young man. 

18 Sufferings | had much altered | Bekir's features; 

19 so the vizier | did not recognize him. | However, | by dint 

20 of calling to mind | the various epochs | of his glorious 

21 life ; | he recollected | that Bekir | had formerly done him 

22 a little service. | — Yes, yes, my friend, | said he to him, 

23 I remember you ; | you are a brave man : | but the state 

24 is encumbered ; | a long war | and great festivals 

25 have exhausted | our finances. | However, | call upon me again: 

26 I will try, | I will see. ... | Ah ! my lord, | I have no 

27 bread ; | for a fortnight | I have been waiting for 

28 an opportunity | of speaking to your lordship, and 

29 I should have perished | withmisery, | but for a soldier | of the 

30 my ancient comrade, | who shared his pay | with me. [guard, 

31 That is very well | of that soldier, | replied the vizier ; | it 

32 is truly | noble and affecting ; | I will mention it | to the king. 

33 Call upon me again ; | you know that | I love you. . . . 

34 Saying these words, | he turned his back upon him. | Bekir 

35 called again the next day, | but he found | the door shut. 



88 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 Accable de desespoir, | il sortit du palais | et de la ville 

2 resolu | de n'y jamais rentrer. | — II se jeta au pied 

3 d'un arbre | sur le bord | d'une riviere, | La il reflechit 

4 a l'ingratitu-de | des vizirs, | a tous les malheurs qu'il 

5 avait eprouves, | a ceux qui | le menacaient encore ; 

6 et ne pouvant plus | supporter | ces tristes idees, | il se leva 

7 pour se precipiter j dans le fleuve : | mais il se sentit 

8 embrasser | par un mendiant | qui baignait | son visage 

9 de pleurs, | et s'ecriait | en sanglotant : | C'est mon frere, 

10 c'est Bekir! | Bekir regarde | et reeonnait Mesrou. — 

11 Tout homme | a du plaisir, | sans doute, | a retrouver 

12 un frere | qu'il n'a pas vu | depuis long-temps; | mais 

13 un malheureux | sans ressource, | sans amis, 

14 qui va | finir ses jours | de desespoir, 

15 croit voir | un ange du ciel, 

16 en retrouvant | un frere qu'il aime. | Ce fut le 

17 sentiment | que Bekir | et Mesrou | eprouverent a la fois. 

18 lis se pressent mutuellement | dans leurs bras, 

19 ils confondent | leurs larmes, | et apres | les premiers 

20 moments [ donnes a la tendresse, | ils se regardent 

21 avec des yeux | surpris et affliges. | Tu es done aussi 

22 malheureux ? | s'ecria Bekir. | Voici, [ repondit Mesrou, 

23 le premier moment | de bonheur | dont j'ai joui 

24 depuis que | nous nous sommes quittes. | A ces mots 

25 les deux infortunes | s'embrassent encore ; 

26 ils s'appuient | l'un sur l'autre ; | et Mesrou assis 

27 pres de Bekir | commenca ainsi | son histoire. — 

28 Tu te souviens | du jour fatal | ou nous allames 

29 chez Alzim. | Ce perfide genie | me dit que 

30 je pourrais trouver | a la cour | ce Bathmendi | que 

31 nous desirions tant | de rencontrer. | Je suivis son 

32 funeste conseil, | et j'arrivai bientot | a Ispahan. 

33 Je fis connaissance | avec une jeune esclave | qui 

34 appartenait | a la femme | du premier secretaire [moi, 

35 du grand vizir. | Cette esclave | concut de 1'afFection | pour 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 89 

1 Overwhelmed with despair, | he left the palace | and the city, 

2 determined | never to enter it again. | — He threw himself at the 

3 of a tree | on the bank | of a river. | There he reflected [foot 

4 on the ingratitude | of viziers, | on all the misfortunes which he 

5 had experienced, | oa those which | still threatened him ; 

6 and unable any longer | to bear | those melancholy ideas, | he 

7 to throw himself | into the river : | but he felt himself [rose 

8 embraced | by a beggar, | who bathed | his face 

9 with tears, | and exclaimed, | sobbing : | It is my brother, 

10 it is Bekir ! | Bekir looks | and recognizes Mesrou. — 

11 Every man | feels pleasure, | no doubt, | in meeting again with 

12 a brother, | whom he has not seen | for a long time; | but 

13 an unfortunate man | without resource, | without friends, 

14 who is going | to put an end to his existence, | in despair, 

15 thinks he sees | an angel from heaven, 

16 in finding again | a beloved brother. | Such was the 

17 sentiment | which Bekir | and Mesrou | experienced | at the 

18 They mutually press each other | in their arms, [same time. 

19 they mingle | their tears, | and after | the first 

20 moments | given to tenderness, | they look at each other 

21 with eyes | full of surprise and affliction. | Art thou then also 

22 unfortunate ? | exclaimed Bekir. | This is, | answered Mesrou, 

23 the first moment | of happiness j which I have enjoyed 

24 since | we parted. | At these words 

25 the two unfortunate men | embrace each other again ; 

26 they lean | on each other ; | and Mesrou, seated 

27 near Bekir, j thus began | his history. — 

28 You remember | the fatal day | when we went 

29 to Alzim's. | That perfidious genius | told me that 

30 I might find | at court | that Bathmendi, j whom 

31 we so much wished | to meet. | I followed his 

32 pernicious advice, | and soon arrived | at Ispahan. 

33 I became acquainted | with a young slave, | who 

34 belonged | to the wife | of the first secretary [me, 

35 to the grand vizier. | That slave | conceived an affection for 

8* 



90 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 et m^introduisit | aupres de sa maitresse, | qui me fit passer 

2 pour son frere. j Bientot le frere | fut presente | au visir, 

3 et quelques jours apres | il obtint un emploi | dans le palais. 

4 La sultane j me distingua j et me prit | dans une amitie intirne. 

5 Desce moment | les honneurs et les richesses | commencement 

6 a pleuvoir | sur moi. | Le monarque | lui-meme | me temoigna 

7 de 1'afFection. | II aimait a causer | avec moi, | parce que 

8 jeleflattais | avecadresse, | etque | jeluiconseillaistoujours 

9 ce qu'il avait en vie | de faire. | C'etait le moyen 

10 de lui faire faire bientot | ce que je voudrais. | Cela 

11 ne manqua pas | d'arriver. | Au bout | de trois ans, 

12 je me vis | a la fois | premier ministre, | favori du roi, 

13 maitre de nommer | et de deplacer | les visirs, | decidant 

14 tout | par mon credit, | et recevant j tous les matins 

15 les grands de l'empire, | qui venaient attendre 

16 mon re veil | pour obtenir | de moi | un sourire 

17 de protection. | — Au milieu de | ma gloire | et de ma 

18 fortune, | je m'etonnais | de ne pas rencontrer | Bathmendi, 

19 que je cherchais. | Rien ne me manque, | me disais-je ; 

20 pourquoi | Bathmendi me manque-t-il ? | Cette idee 

21 et la gene | ou je passais | ma vie, | empoisonnerent 

22 tous mes plaisirs. | L'amour du roi | pour une jeune 

23 Mingrelienne | vint combler | mon infortune. | Toute 

24 la cour | tourna les yeux | de ce cote, | dans l'espoir que 

25 la jeune beaute | chasserait le ministre. | Je parai 

26 le coup, | en me liant avec elle, | et en flattant 

27 l'amour du roi. | Bientot le monarque etant 

28 decide a epouser | cette demoiselle, | me demanda mon avis. 

29 Je tergiversai | quelques jours. | La Sultane mere 

30 qui craignait | de perdre son credit, | si son fils se mariait, 

31 me dit | que si j je ne rompais pas | ce mariage 

32 elle me ferait assassiner | le jour meme | de la 

33 ceremonie. | Une heure apres, | la Mingrelienne 

34 vint m'assurer | que si | je ne la faisais pas epouser 

35 par le roi | le lendemain, | je serais ctrangle | le jour 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 91 

1 and introduced me | to her mistress, | who made me pass 

2 for her brother. | Soon the brother | was presented] to the vizier, 

3 and a few days after | he obtained an office | in the palace. 

4 The Sultana | distinguished me | and took me | into an intimate 

5 From that moment | honor and riches | began [friendship. 

6 to shower | upon me. | The monarch | himself | showed me 

7 some affection. | He liked to converse | with me, | because 

8 I nattered him | with address, | and | always advised him 

9 that which he had a mind | to do. | This was the means 

10 to make him soon do | what I should wish. | That 

11 did not fail | to happen. | At the end | of three years, 

12 I saw myself | at once j prime minister, | favorite of the king, 

13 having in my power to appoint | and remove | viziers, | deciding 

14 every thing | by my influence, | and receiving | every morning 

15 the great men of the empire, | who came to wait 

16 till I awoke, | to obtain | from me | a smile 

17 of protection. | — In the midst of j my glory, | and of my 

18 fortune, | I was astonished | not to meet | Bathmendi, 

19 whom I was seeking. | I feel no want of any thing, | said I to 

20 why | do I still want Bathmendi 1 | This idea [myself; 

21 and the constraint | in which I spent | my life, | poisoned 

22 all my pleasures. | The love of the king | for a young 

23 Mingrelian girl | came to fill up | my misfortune. | The whole 

24 court | turned their eyes | to that side, | in the hope that 

25 the young beauty | would turn out the minister. | I parried 

26 the blow, | in connecting myself with her, | and flattering 

27 the passion of the king. | Soon the monarch being 

28 determined to marry | that young lady, | asked my advice. 

29 I hesitated | for some days. | The Sultana's mother, 

30 who was afraid | of losing her influence | if her son should 

31 told me | that if | I did not break off | that match [marry, 

32 she would have me assassinated | the very day | of the 

33 ceremony. | One hour after, | the Mingrelian girl 

34 came to assure me J that if | I did not get her married 

35 to the king | the next day, | I should be strangled | the day 



92 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 d'apres. | Ma position | etait embarrassante. | II fallait 

2 choisir ] du poignard, | du cordon | ou de la fuite. 

3 Je resolus de fuir. | Je me suis deguise | comme tu vois, 

4 et me suis echappe | du palais | avec quelques diamants 

5 dans mes poches, | qui me feront vivre | avec toi | dans 

6 quelque coin | de l'lndostan, | loin des Sultanes, 

7 des Mingreliennes | et de la cour. | Apres ce recit, | Bekir 

8 raconta ses aventures | a Mesrou. | lis convinrent 

9 qu'ils auraient fait | tout aussi bien 

10 de ne pas courir | le monde, J comme ils Pavaient fait, 

11 et que | la meilleure chose | qu'ils pussent faire | etait 

12 de retourner | dans le Kousistan j aupres de leur frere 

13 Ta'i, | ou les diamants | de Mesrou j les mettraient en etat 

14 de mener une vie | douce et aisee. | Apres cette 

15 resolution, | ils se mirent en route | et marcherent 

16 plusieurs jours | sans aventure. | Comme ils 

17 traversaient | la province de F. . ., | ils arriverent 

18 vers le soir | a un petit village | ou ils comptaient 

19 passer la nuit. | C'etait | un jour de fete. | En entrant 

20 dans le village, | ils virent | plusieurs enfants de paysans 

21 conduits | par une espece | de magister | mal vetu, 

22 marchant | la tete basse | et ayant 1'air | de rever 

23 tristement. | Les deux freres | s'approchent de 

24 ce magister, | le regardent | attentivement. . . . | Quelle 

25 est leur surprise ! | C'est Sadder, | c'est leur frere 

26 qu'ils embrassent. | Eh ! quoi ! | mon ami, | lui dit Bekir, 

27 est-ce ainsi | qu'on recompense le genie ? | Tu vois, 

28 repondit Sadder, | qu'on le traite | a peu pres 

29 comme la valeur ; | mais la philosophie | doit nous offrir 

30 des consolations. | En disant ces mots, | il ordonna a tous 

31 les enfants | d'aller chez eux, | conduisit Bekir | et 

32 Mesrou | a sa petite cabane, | appreta | lui-meme | un peu de 

33 riz | pour leur souper, J et apres avoir | entendu le recit 

34 de leurs aventures, | il leur raconta ainsi | son histoire: — 

35 Le genie Alzim, | que je soupqonne j beaucoup | d'aimer 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 93 

1 after, j My situation j was embarrassing. | I had 

2 to choose | between the dagger, j the rope, | or flight. 

3 I resolved to fly. j I have disguised myself | as you see, 

4 and have escaped | from the palace j with some diamonds 

5 in my pockets, | which will support me | with you j in 

6 some corner j of Hindostan, j far from the Sultanas, 

7 Mingrelian girls, | and the court. | After this recital, j Bekir 

8 related his adventures J to Mesrou. | They agreed 

9 that they would have done j just as well 

10 not to have rambled | about the world, | as they had done, 

11 and that the best thing | that they could do | was 

12 to return j into Kousistan, j to their brother 

13 Tai, j where the diamonds j of Mesrou | would enable them 

14 to lead a life j sweet and easy, j After this 

15 resolution, | they set out on their journey, j and travelled 

16 several days | without meeting with any adventure, j As they 

17 were crossing | the province of F. . ., j they arrived, 

18 towards dusk, | at a small village, | where they intended 

19 to spend the night ] It was a holy day. J On entering 

20 the village, | they saw j several peasants' children, 

21 attended | by a kind | of school-master | badly clad, 

22 walking ] with his head down, | and seeming | to be absorbed 

23 in melancholy thoughts. | The two brothers | approach 

24 this school -master, | look at him | attentively. . . | What 

25 is their surprise ! | It is Sadder, j it is their brother, 

26 whom they embrace. | What ! | my friend, | said Bekir, 

27 is it thus | that genius is rewarded ? | You see, 

28 replied Sadder, | that it is treated | much in the same way 

29 as valour is ; | but philosophy | must offer us 

30 consolations. | Saying these words, | he ordered all 

31 the children | to go home, | conducted Bekir j and 

32 Mesrou | to his little cottage, | dressed, | himself, | a little 

33 rice | for their supper, | and, after having | heard the recital 

34 of their adyentures, | he thus related to them | his history: — 

35 The genius Alzim, | whom I suspect | much | to be fond of 



94 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 le mal d'autrui | me conseilla | de chereher | cet 

2 introuvable Bathmendi | dans la grande ville | d'Agra, 

3 parmi les beaux esprits | et les belles dames | de cette ville. 

4 J'arrivai | a Agra, | et avant de me repandre | dans le monde 

5 je voulus | me faire connaitre | par quelque ouvrage d'eclat. 

6 Au bout d'un mois | mon ouvrage parut ; c'etait un 

7 cours complet | de toutes | les sciences humaines, | en un 

8 petit volume | divise | par chapitres. | Chaque chapitre 

9 etait un conte, | et chaque conte | enseignait | une science. 

10 Mon livre | et moi | nous devinmes bientot | a la mode. 

11 On m'invita | dans toutes les societes | qui se piquaient 

12 d'avoir un peu d'esprit; | on ne parlait que de moi, 

13 et la Sultane | m'ecrivit | de sa main | un billet 

14 sans orthographe, | pour me prier | de venir a la cour. — 

15 Courage! me disais-je ; | Alzim ne m'a pas trompe; 

16 ma gloire | est au comble: | je la soutiendrai | par 

17 des moyens plus surs | que ceux | de l'intrigue : j je plairai, 

18 et je trouverai | Bathmendi. | Je fus parfaitement 

19 accueilli | dans le palais | du grand Mogol : | la 

20 Sultane | se declara ouvertement [ ma protectnce, 

21 me presenta | a l'empereur, | me commanda des vers, 

22 me donna | des pensions, | m'admit | a ses petits soupers, 

23 et me jura | cent fois | une amitie eternelle. 

24 Je croyais etre | sur le point | de rencontrer Bathmendi, 

25 quand ma protectrice | se brouilla | avec le vizir, 

26 parce que ce ministre | refusa de donner | le 

27 gouvernement d'une province [ au fils | du confiseur 

28 de la Sultane. | La Sultane outree | de cette audace, 

29 pria l'empereur | de chasser l'insolent ministre ; 

30 mais l'empereur | aimait son vizir | et refusa de le renvoyer. 

31 Alors | il fallut | etablir | une intrigue reguliere 

32 pour perdre | le vizir soutenu. | Je fus du compiot, | et 

33 je recus ordre | de composer | une satire sanglante | contre 

34 le ministre, | et de la repandre | dans le public. | Le 

35 vizir | sut bientot | que j'en etais l'auteur. | II alia 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 95 

1 other people's affliction, | advised me | to seek | that 

2 not-to-be-found Bathmendi | in the large town | of Agra, 

3 amongst the wits, [ and the fine ladies [ of that city. 

4 I arrived at Agra, | and before I mixed | with the world 

5 I wished | to make myself known | by some striking work. 

6 At the end of a month | my work appeared ; | it was a 

7 complete course | of all | human sciences, | in a 

8 little volume | divided | into chapters. | Each chapter 

9 was a tale, | and each tale | taught | a science. 

10 My book | and myself | soon became | fashionable. 
Ill was invited | to all the societies | that pretended 

12 to have any sense ; | there was no talk but of me, 

13 and the Sultana | wrote to me | with her own hand | a note, 

14 badly spelled, | to ask me J to come to court. — 

15 Well ! said I to myself: | xAlzim has not deceived me; 

16 my glory | is at its height ; | I will sustain it | by 

17 surer means [ than those | of intrigue; | I will please, 

18 and I shall find | Bathmendi. | I was perfectly 

19 received | in the palace | of the grand Mogul : | the 

20 Sultana j declared herself openly | my protectress, 

21 presented me | to the emperor, | bespoke verses from me, 

22 gave me | pensions, | admitted me | to her private suppers, 

23 and swore to me | a hundred times | an eternal friendship. 

24 I thought I was | on the point | of meeting Bathmendi, 

25 when my protectress | fell out | with the vizier, 

26 because that minister | refused to give | the 

27 government of a province | to the son | of the confectioner 

28 of the Sultana. | The Sultana exasperated | at this audacity, 

29 begged the emperor | to dismiss | the insolent minister ; 

30 but the emperor | liked his vizier, | and refused to dismiss him. 

31 Then I it became necessary | to establish | a regular intrigue 

32 to ruin I the patronized vizier. 1 1 entered into the plot, | and 

33 I received order | to compose | a cutting satire | against 

34 the minister, | and to spread it | among the public. | — The 

35 vizier | soon knew | that I was the author of it. | He went 



96 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 trouver la Sultane, | lui porta | le brevet | qu'il avail 

2 d'abord refuse, | une ordonnance de | cent mille 

3 dariques | sur le tresor royal, | et ne lui demanda 

4 pour recompense | que de lui permettre | de me jeter 

5 dans un cachot. | C'est tine misere, [ repondit la 

6 Sultane, | et je suis tres-heu reuse | de pouvoir faire 

7 quelque chose | qui vous soit agreable. | Je vais 

8 envoyer chercher tout-a-1'heure | ce miserable 

9 qui a ose | vous insulter | malgre mes defenses expresses, 

10 et le remettre | entre vos mains. | Heureusement 

11 pour moi | un esclave | de la Sultane, | qui etait present 

12 vint | me raconter leur conversation ; | je n'eus que 

13 le temps de me sauver. | Depuis ce temps | j'ai 

14 parcouru tout l'Indostan, | gagnant a peine 

15 ma vie | a ecrire des romans, | et a faire des vers. 

16 Tant que j'a vais eu | de Fargent, | mes ouvrages 

17 avaient ete des chefs-d'oeuvre; [si tot que je fus 

18 dans la misere, J je ne fis que des sottises. | Enfin ? 

19 degoute d'instruire | l'univers, | j'ai mieux airne 

20 montrer a lire a des paysans, | et je me suis fait 

21 maitre d' ecole | dans ce petit village I ou je vis 

22 de pain bis, | et ou je n'espere pas | voir Bathmendi. 

23 II ne tient qu' a toi, | lui dit Mesrou, | de le quitter 

24 et de retourner avec nous | dans le Kousistan, | ou 

25 quelques diamants | que j'emporte, | nous assurent 

26 une vie douce et tranquille. | II n'eut pas grand 'peine 

27 a determiner Sadder. | Des le lendemain | ies trois 

28 freres | sortirent du village | avant le jour j et prirent 

29 la route du Kousistan. | — lis en etaient | a leur 

30 derniere journee, | et a peu de distance | de la petite 

31 maison de Tai. | Cette idee les consolait ; | mais leur 

32 espoir | etait mele | de crainte. | Trouverons-nous 

33 notre frere ? | disaient-ils : nous l'avons laisse 

34 bien pauvre ; | il n'aura pas rencontre | Bathmendi, 

35 puisqu'il n'a pas pu | le chercher. | Mes chers 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 97 

1 to the Sultana, | brought her | the commission | which he had 

2 at first refused, | an order for | a hundred thousand 

3 daricks | on the royal treasury, | and asked her, 

4 in return, j only to permit him [ to throw me 

5 into a dungeon. | That is a trifle, | answered the 

6 Sultana, J and I am very happy | to be able to do 

7 something | that may be acceptable to you. | I am going 

8 immediately to send for | that wretch 

9 who has dared j to insult you j in spite of my express orders, 

10 and deliver him | into your hands. | Luckily 

11 for me, | a slave | of the Sultana, | who was present, 

12 came | to relate their conversation to me ; | I had only 

13 time to escape. | Since that time | I have 

14 wandered all over Hindostan, | hardly gaining 

15 my livelihood | by writing novels, | and making verses. 

16 Whilst I had j money, | my works 

17 had been master-pieces ; | as soon as I was 

18 in misery, | all that I wrote was nonsense. | At last, 

19 disgusted with instructing | the world, | I preferred 

20 to teach peasants reading, | and I have turned 

21 school-master | in this little village, | where I live 

22 upon brown bread, | and where I do not expect | to see Bath- 

23 It depends on you, | said Mesrou to him, | to leave it, [mendi. 

24 and to return with us | to Kousistan, | where 

25 some diamonds | which I take with me | insure us 

26 a sweet and quiet life. | He had not much difficulty 

27 to determine Sadder. | The very next day | the three 

28 brothers | went out of the village | before day-break, | and took 

29 the road to Kousistan. | — They were | on their 

30 last day's journey, | and at no great distance | from the small 

31 house of Ta'i. | This idea consoled them ; | but their 

32 hope | was mingled | with fear. | Shall we find 

33 our brother? | said they : | we left him 

34 very poor ; | he will not have met | Bathmendi, 

35 since he has not been able | to seek him. | My dear 

9 



98 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 amis, j leur dit Sadder, | j'ai beaucoup reftechi 

2 ace Bathmendi | dont Alzim j nous a parle. 

3 Franchement, | je crois | que le genie | s'est moque de noas, 

4 Bathmendi n'existe pas ; [ car | puisque mon frere 

5 Bekir ne 1'a pas rencontre | quand il commandait 

6 la moitie de 1'armee persaone ; | puisque Mesrou 

7 n'en a pas entendu parler | lorsqu'il etait | le favori 

8 du grand roi ; | puisque moi-meme J je n'ai pu 

9 le trouver | dans le temps | que j'etais comble 

10 des faveurs | de la gloire [ et de la fortune; | il est 

11 clair [ que Bathmendi | est un etre imaginaire, 

12 une illusion, | une chimere. | apres laquelle | tous 

13 les hommes courent, | parce qu'ils aiment | les chimeres, 

14 parce qu'ils aiment a courir. | — II allait prouver 

15 que Bathmendi | n'hahitait pas [ dans ce monde 

16 lorsqu' une troupe | de voleurs | sort de derriere 

17 les rochers | qui bordaient | la route, J entoure 

18 les voyageurs, | et leur ordonne j de se depouiller. 

19 Bekir voulut resister, | mais il fut bientot desarme. 

20 Apres cette ceremonie | qui fut PafFaire | d'un 

21 moment, | le chef des voleurs | leur souhaita j un bon 

22 voyage, | et les laissa | tout nus | au milieu du 

23 grand chemin. | — Ceci vient | a Pappui de j ma 

24 proposition, | dit Sadder, j en regardant ses freres. 

25 Ah ! les laches ! | s'ecria Bekir | en fureur ; | ils 

26 m'ont arrache mon epee ! | Mes diamants ! | mes pauvres 

27 diamants, | dit Mesrou | en pleurant. | — II faisait nuit; 

28 les trois infortunes j se haterent | de gagner | la 

29 maison | de leur frere Tai. | Ils y arriverent enfin, 

30 et la vue | de cette maison | fit couler leurs larmes. 

31 Ils s'arreterent | a la porte ; | ils n'oserent frapper ; 

32 toutes leurs craintes, | toutes leurs incertitudes | recommence- 

33 Tandis qu'ils balancaient ainsi, | Bekir route | une [rent. 

34 grosse pierre, | monte dessus, | et trouvant | une fente 

35 dans le contrevent | de la fenetre, | il regarde | et aperqoit 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 99 

1 friends, _j said Sadder to them, J I have much reflected 

2 on this Bathmendi, | of whom Alzim | spoke to us. 

3 Frankly, { I believe | that the genius | has made game of us. 

4 Bathmendi does not exist ; | for, j since my brother 
-5 Bekir did not meet him | when he commanded 

6 half the Persian army ; | since Mesrou 

7 did not hear his name mentioned | when he was j the favorite 

8 of the great King j j since I myself j was not able 

9 to find him | at the time | when I was loaded 

10 with the favours | of glory j and fortune,* j it is 

11 obvious | that Bathmendi j is an imaginary being, 

12 an illusion, j a chimera, j after which | all 

13 men run, | because they like { chimeras, 

14 because they like rambling about, j He was going to prove 

15 that Bathmendi | did not exist | in the world, 

16 when a band j of robbers | rush from behind 

17 the rocks \ which lined j the road, | surround 

18 the travellers, j and order them j to strip. 

19 Bekir wished to resist, | but he was soon disarmed. 

20 After this ceremony, | which was the business | of a 

21 moment, | the chief of the robbers ) wished them | a good 

22 journey, | and left them | quite naked | in the midst of the 

23 highway, j — This comes | in support of | my 

24 proposition, | said Sadder, | looking at his brothers. 

25 Ah I the cowards ! j exclaimed Bekir | in a rage; | they 

26 have taken my sword from me ! | My diamonds ! | My poor 

27 diamonds, | said Mesrou | weeping. | — It was dark ; 

28 the three unfortunate men | hastened | to reach | the 

29 house | of their brother Tai. | They at length reached h, 

30 and the sight | of that house | made their tears flow, 

31 They stopped j at the door, | they dared not knock ; 

32 all their fears, | all their doubts j were renewed. 

33 Whilst they were thus wavering, [ Bekir rolls | a 

34 large stone, | gets upon it, | and finding | a cleft 

35 in the shutter j of the window, | he looks | and perceives 



100 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 dans une chambre | propre | et simplement meublee, 

2 son frere Ta'i | a table, | au milieu de dix enfants 

3 qui mangeaient, | riaient | et babillaient | tous a la fois. 

4 Ta'i avait a sa droite | sa femme, | qui faisait manger 

5 son dernier enfant ; | et a sa gauche | etait un petit vieillard 

6 d'une physionomie douce et gaie, | qui versait 

7 a boire a Ta'i. | A ce spectacle | Bekir se precipite 

8 dans les bras | de ses freres, | et frappe | a la porte 

9 de toutes ses forces. | Un valet | vient l'ouvrir, | et 

10 jette des cris de frayeur, | en voyant | trois hommes 

11 tout nus. | Ta'i court | a la porte. | Les trois 

12 etrangers | lui sautent au cou ; | ils Pappellent 

13 leur frere; [ ils le baignent | de larmes. | II est 

14 trouble d'abord, | mais | il reconnait bientot | Bekir, 

15 Mesrou, ] Sadder. | II les presse | dans ses bras, 

16 il ne peut | les embrasser assez. J Tous les enfants 

17 accourent pour voir | ce qu'il y avait. | Amine vint aussi, 

18 mais elle se retira | avec ses filles | a Paspect des 

19 trois freres nus. | II n'y eut que | le petit vieillard 

20 qui ne quitta pas | la table. | — Ta'i donna | des habits 

21 a ses freres, | les presenta | a sa femme, | et leur fit 

22 embrasser ses enfants. | Helas ! dit Bekir | attendri 

23 a ce spectacle ; | ton heureux sort | nous console | de tout 

24 ce que nous avons souffert. | Depuis l'instant de 

25 notre separation, | notre vie | n'a ete qu'un | enchainement 

26 d'infortunes, | et nous n'avons pas | seulement 

27 entrevu | ce Bathmendi | apres lequel | nous avons 

28 tous couru. | Je le crois bien, | dit alors | le petit 

29 vieillard | qui demeurait | toujours | a table; 

30 je n'ai pas | bouge d'ici. | Comment 1 s'ecria 

31 Mesrou, | vous etes. . . . | Je suis Bathmendi, 

32 reprit le vieillard. | It est tout simple | que vous 

33 ne me connaissiez pas, | puisque j vous ne m'avez jamais vu : 

34 mais | demandez a Ta'i, | demandez a la bonne Amine 

35 et a tous | ces petits enfants : | il n'y en a pas un | qui 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 101 

1 in a room, | neat | and plainly furnished, 

2 his brother Tai | at table, | in the midst of ten children, 

3 who were eating, | laughing | and chattering | all at once. 

4 Tai had on his right | his wife, | who was feeding 

5 her youngest child; | and on his left | was a little old man 

6 of a sweet and cheerful countenance, | who was pouring out 

7 drink for Tai. | At this sight j Bekir rushes 

8 into the arms j of his brothers, | and knocks | at the door 

9 with all his might. | A servant j comes to open it, | and 

10 screams with fright, j at seeing j three men 

11 quite naked. | Tai runs j to the door. | The three 

12 strangers j fall on his neck; J they call him 

13 their brother; j they bathe him | with tears. | He is 

14 confused at first, | but | he soon recognizes | Bekir, 

15 Mesrou, j Sadder. | He presses them j in his arms, 

16 he cannot j embrace them enough. | All the children 

17 run to see | what it was. j Amina came also, 

18 but she withdrew j with her daughters | at the sight of the 

19 three naked brothers. | There was only | the little old man 

20 who did not quit j the table. — | Tai gave | clothes 

21 to his brothers, j presented them | to his wife, | and made them 

22 kiss his children. | Alas ! said Bekir, | affected 

23 at this sight ; | thy happy lot | consoles us | for all 

24 that we have suffered. | Since the moment | of 

25 our separation, | our life | has been only | a series 

26 of misfortunes, | and we have not | even 

27 had a glimpse of | that Bathmendi | after whom | we have 

28 all been running. | I readily believe it, | said then | the little 

29 old man | who remained | all this time | at table ; 

30 I have not | stirred hence. | How ! exclaimed 

31 Mesrou, | you are. . . . | I am Bathmendi, 

32 replied the old man. | It. is natural | that you 

33 should not know me, | since | you have never seen me : 

34 but | ask Tai, | ask the good Amina 

35 and all | these little children : | there is not one of them | but 

9* 



102 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 ne sache mon norn. | Les trois freres | qui ne pouvaient 

2 se lasser de considerer | ce petit vieillard, | voulurent 

3 l'embrasser. | Doucement, | leur dit-il, | je n'aime pas 

4 ces grands mouvements. | II faut etre amis | avant de 

5 se caresser. | Si vous souhaitez | que nous le devenions, 

6 ne vous occupez pas trop de moi. | En disant ces mots 

7 il se leva, | baisa chacun des enfants, j fit un petit 

8 salut | au trois freres, | un sourire a Amine | et a Tai, 

9 et alia | les attendre | dans leur chambre a coucher. 

10 Tai se remit a table j avec ses freres | et 

11 leur fit appreter des lits. | Le lendemain | ii 

12 leur montra | ses champs, | ses troupeaux, | et leur fit 

13 un detail | de tous les plaisirs | dont il jouissait. 

14 Bekir prit la charrue | le jour meme; | aussi 

15 il fut le premier | qui devint l'ami | de 

16 Bathmendi. | Mesrou | qui avait ete | premier 

17 ministre | fut premier berger j de la ferme, 

18 et le poete | se chargea | d'aller vendre | a la ville, 

19 le ble, | la laine, | et le lait | qu'on envoyait 

20 au marche ; | son eloquence | attirait les chalands, 

21 et il etait | aussi utile | que les autres. | Au bout 

22 de six mois, | Bathmendi se plut avec eux, | et leurs 

23 jours nombreux et tranquilles | coulerent doucement 

24 au sein du bonheur. | — II est peut-etre | inutile 

25 de dire | que BATHMENDI, | en persan 

26 signifie le BONHEUR. 



27 RAPIDITE DE LA VIE. 

28 Je suis Arcesius, | pere de Laerte, | dit le vieillard : 

29 j'avais fini mes jours | avant que mon petit-fils 

30 Ulysse | partit | pour le siege j de Troie. 

31 Tu n'etais alors | qu'un enfant | entre les bras de ta 

32 nourrice ; | mais je con^us | de toi de grandes esperances, 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 103 

1 knows my name. | The three brothers | who could not 

2 keep their eyes off | that little old man, | wished 

3 to embrace him. | Gently, | said he to them, | I dislike 

4 these great raptures. | People must be friends | before 

5 they make so free. | If you wish | that we should become so, 

6 be not too much taken up with me. | Saying these words 

7 he got up, | kissed every one of the children, ( made a gentle 

8 bow | to the three brothers, | gave a smile to Amina | and Ta'f, 

9 and went | to wait for them j in their bed-room. 

10 Tax sat again at table | with his brothers, | and 

11 ordered beds to be got ready for them, j The next day | he 

12 showed them | his fields, | his flocks, | and made them 

13 a detail | of all the pleasures | which he enjoyed. 

14 Bekir took the plough j that very day ; | so 

15 he was the first | who became the friend | of 

16 Bathmendi. | Mesrou | who had been | the prime 

17 minister | was head shepherd | of the farm, 

18 and the poet | took upon himself | to go and sell | in town 

19 the corn, | the wool, | and the milk | which was sent 

20 to market ; | his eloquence | brought customers, 

21 and he was | as useful | as the others. | At the end 

22 of six months, | Bathmendi was pleased with them, | and their 

23 numerous and quiet days | glided on gently 

24 in the bosom of happiness, j — It is perhaps | useless 

25 to say | that BATHMENDI, | in the Persian language, 

26 means HAPPINESS. 



27 RAPIDITY OF LIFE. 

28 I am Arcesius, | the father of Laertes, | said the old man ; 

29 I had ended my days | before my grandson 

30 Ulysses | departed | for the siege | of Troy. 

31 Thou wast then | but an infant | in the arms of thy 
:32 nurse ; | but I conceived | great hopes of thee, 



104 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 et elles ne m'ont point trompe, | puisque je vois que 

2 tu es descendu | dans le royaume de Pluton | pour 

3 chercher ton pere, | et que les dieux | te soutiennent 

4 dans cette entreprise. | O mon heureux enfant ! | Les 

5 dieux t'aiment, | et te preparent une gloire | qui 

6 egalera | celle de ton pere. | Heureux moi-meme 

7 de te revoir ! | Cesse de chercher | Ulysse ici ; 

8 il est encore en vie ; | il est reserve | pour relever 

9 notre maison, | dans Pile d'lthaque. | Laerte 

10 meme, | quoique courbe | sous le poids | des ans, 

11 jouit encore de la lumiere, | et espere | que son fils 

12 viendra j lui fermer les yeux. | Ainsi les mortels 

13 passent comme les fleurs, | qui s'epanouissent 

14 le matin, | et qui le soir [ se fletrissent, | et sont 

15 foulees au pied. | Les generations des hommes 

16 s'ecoulent | comme les ondes j d'une riviere rapide. 

17 Rien ne peut arreter | le temps, | qui entraine 

18 apres lui | tout ce qui parait | le plus immobile. 

19 Toi-meme, | 6 mon fils, | mon cher fils, | toi qui jouis 

20 maintenant | d'une jeunesse | si vive | et si feconde 

21 en plaisirs, | souviens-toi | que cette saison riante 

22 n'est qu'une fleur | qui se fletrit | presque 

23 aussitot qu'elle est eclose. | Tu te verras change 

24 insensiblement : | les graces riantes, | les doux 

25 plaisirs | qui t'accompagnent, | la force, | la sante, 

26 la joie, | s'evanouiront | comme un beau songe ; 

27 il ne t'en restera | qu'un triste souvenir. | La vieillesse, 

28 cet ennemi du plaisir, | viendra rider 

29 ton front, | courber ton corps, | affaiblir tes membres, 

30 tarir la source | de la joie | dans ton coeur s | et 

31 te degouter | du present, | te remplir de crainte 

32 pour l'avenir, | et te rendre insensible | a tout 

33 excepte a la douleur. | Ce temps [ te parait 

34 eloigne : | helas ! tu te trompes, | mon fils ; 

35 il vient rapidement,* | que dis je? | il est deja pres ; 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 105 

1 and they have not deceived me, | since I see that 

2 thou hast descended | into Pluto's kingdom | in 

3 search of thy father, | and that the gods | sustain thee 

4 in this attempt. | O my fortunate youth ! | The 

5 gods love thee, | and are preparing a glory for thee | which 

6 will equal | that of thy father. | Happy am I myself 

7 to see thee again ! | Cease to seek | Ulysses here ; 

8 he is still alive ; | he is reserved | to be the restorer of 

9 our house, | in the island of Ithaca. | Laertes 

10 himself, | though bent | under the weight | of years, 

11 still enjoys the light, | and hopes | that his son 

12 will return | to close his eyes. | Thus mortals 

13 pass away like flowers, | which bloom 

14 in the morning, | and which in the evening | wither | and are 

15 trodden under foot, j The generations of men 

16 roll away j as the waves ] of a rapid river. 

17 Nothing can stop | Time, | which carries 

18 with him | all that seems | the most immoveable. 

19 Thyself, | O my son, | my dear son, | thou who enjoyest 

20 now | a youth | so sprightly ] and fecund 

21 in pleasures, | remember | that this gay season 

22 is but a flower | which fades | almost 

23 as soon as it is blown. | Thou wilt perceive thyself changed 

24 insensibly : | the smiling graces, | the sweet 

25 pleasures | which attend thee, | strength, | health, 

26 joy, | will vanish | like a pleasing dream ; 

27 nothing will remain | but a sad remembrance. | Old age, 

28 that enemy of pleasure, | will come and wrinkle 

29 thy forehead, | bend thy body, | weaken thy limbs, 

30 dry up the source ] of joy | in thy heart, | and 

31 disgust thee | with the present, | fill thee with fear 

32 for the future, | and make thee insensible | to all 

33 except pain. | This time | appears to thee to be 

34 far distant : | alas ! thou art mistaken, | my son : 

35 it comes rapidly ; | what do I say ? j it is near already ; 



106 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 ce qui avance | avec tant de rapidite | n'est pas loin | de toi ; 

2 et le present j qui s'enfuit J est deja bien loin, 

3 puisqu'il cesse d'etre { dans le moment | que 

4 nous parlons, j et ne peut plus se rapprocher de nous. 

5 Ne compte done jamais, j mon fils, | sur le present ; j mais 

6 soutiens-toi | dans le sentier rude et epineux j de 

7 la vertu | par la vue de I'avenir. | Tache de meriter | par 

8 la purete de tes moeurs | et l'amour de la justice, 

9 une place | dans cet heureux sejour | de la paix. 



10 PHRASES CHOISIES. 

11 Nous tenons tout | de Dieu ; | consequemment il 

12 convient, | il est juste | que nous rapportions | a lui 

13 toutes nos actions. | — Henri Quatre | a dit que 

14 les louanges seraient ( d'un tres-grand avantage | si 

15 eiles nous donnaient | les bonnes qualites | qui nous manquent. 

16 Rien ne contribue plus | au bonheur de la vie | que de 

17 voir les choses | telles qu'elles sont. 

18 Peu de choses sont necessaires | pour rendre 

19 le sage heureux ; | rien ne peut | contenter un sot. 

20 Si la verite | se montrait | aux hommes | dans 

21 toute sa beaute, | iis ne mentiraient jamais. 

22 Un ouvrier | qui travaille | du matin | au soir, 

23 quand il est bien paye j de son travail, 

24 vit souvent | plus heureux | qu'un prince. 

25 La bonne education | nous enseigne 

26 a nous conduire bien | envers tout le monde. 

27 Les rangs ] et les dignites | ne sont que Pombre 

28 de la vraie grandeur. 

29 Rien n'est | si contagieux | que l'exemple ; 

30 et nous ne faisons jamais | ni beaucoup de bien 

31 ni beaucoup de mal | sans imitateurs. 

32 Nos depenses | devraient etre | en rapport avec 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 107 

1 what advances | with such rapidity | is not far | from thee, 

2 and the present, | for ever flying, | is remote already, 

3 since it ceases to be | in the moment | when 

4 we are speaking, | and can approach us no more. 

5 Never rely, therefore, | my son, | on the present, | but 

6 support thyself | in the rugged and thorny path | of 

7 virtue | by viewing the future. | Endeavor to deserve, | by 

8 purity of manners | and love of justice, 

9 a place | in this happy residence | of peace. « 



10 SELECT SENTENCES. 

11 We have every thing | from God ; | consequently it 

12 is fit, | it is just, | that we should refer | to him 

13 all our actions. | Henry the Fourth | has said that 

14 praises would be | of a very great advantage | if 

15 they gave us | the good qualities | of which we are in want. 

16 Nothing is more conducive | to the happiness of life | than 

17 to see things | as they are. 

18 Few things are necessary | to make 

19 a wise man happy ; | nothing can | make a fool content. 

20 If truth | showed itself | to men | in 

21 all its beauty, | they would never tell a falsehood. 

22 A laborer, | who works | from morning | till night, 

23 when he is well paid | for his labour, 

24 often lives | more happy | than a prince. 

25 Good education | teaches us 

26 to behave well | to every body. 

27 Rank | and dignities | are but the shadow 

28 of true greatness. 

29 Nothing is | so contagious | as example ; 

30 and we never do | either much good 

31 or much evil, | without imitators. 

32 Our expenses | should be | fitted to 



108 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 notre condition, [ et avec les circonstances. 

2 Peu de gens | sont assez sages | pour preferer 

3 le blame | qui leur est utile, | a la louange 

4 qui les trahit. | — La clemence, | la sagesse 

5 et le courage | sont de plus beaux ornements dans 

6 un prince | que les bijoux | dont il est couvert. 

7 Ne faites pas aux autres | ce que vous 

8 ne voudriez pas | qu'on vous fit. 

9 Personne n'est exempt | de defauts. 

10 L'espe ranee, | toute trompeuse qu'elle est, 

11 sert au moins j a nous mener | a la fin de la vie 

12 par un chemin agreable et fleuri. 

13 Quelques richesses | que vous puissiez avoir, 

14 vous ne serez jamais | heureux | si vous ne savez 

15 moderer vos desirs. | — Ce n'est pas assez d'avoir 

16 une grande fortune | pour etre heureux, | il faut 

17 aussi savoir | la depenser | sans prodigalite 

18 et sans avarice. | — L'envie est le desir 

19 de posseder | ce qui appartient | aux autres. 

20 Ce qui fait qu'on n'est pas content | de sa condition, 

21 e'est l'idee chimerique | que l'on se forme 

22 du bonheur j d'autrui. 

23 Parlez peu | et bien, | si vous voulez 

24 qu'on vous regarde | comme un homme de merite. 

25 II y a plus de gloire | a pardonner, | qu'il n'y a 

26 de plaisir | a se venger. | — Tout le monde 

27 se plaint | de sa memoire, | mais personne ne 

28 se plaint [ de son jugement. | — II y a bien des gens 

29 qu'on estime, | parce qu'on ne les connait pas. 

30 L'hypocrisie | est une espece | d'hommage 

31 que le vice | rend a la vertu. | — Le vrai merite 

32 ne depend pas | du temps | ni de la mode. 

33 Le silence | est le parti le plus sur | pour celui qui 

34 se defie de lui-meme. | — Ne remettez pas 

35 a demain | ce que vous pouvez faire | aujourd' hui. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 109 

1 our condition | and to circumstances. 

2 Few people | are wise enough | to prefer 

3 the blame | that is useful to them, | to the praise 

4 which betrays them. | — Clemency, | wisdom, 

5 and courage | are finer ornaments in 

6 a prince | than the jewels | with which he is covered. 

7 Do not do to others | what you 

8 would not wish | to be done to you. 

9 No one is free | from defects. 

10 Hope, | deceitful as it is, 

11 serves at least | to lead us | to the end of life 

12 by an agreeable and flowery path. 

13 Whatever riches | you may have, 

14 you will never be | happy | if you do not know how 

15 to moderate your wishes. | — It is not enough to have 

16 a large fortune | to be happy, | we must 

17 also know how | to spend it | without prodigality, 

18 or avarice, j — Envy is the wish 

19 to possess | what belongs to others. 

20 What makes people dissatisfied | with their condition, 

21 is the chimerical idea | which they form 

22 of the happiness | of others. 

23 Speak little, | and well, | if you wish 

24 to be looked upon | as a man of merit. 

25 There is more glory | in forgiving, | than there is 

26 pleasure | in taking revenge. | — Every body 

27 complains | of his memory, | but no one 

28 complains | of his judgment. | — There are many people 

29 whom a man esteems, | because he does not know them. 

30 Hypocrisy | is a kind | of homage, 

31 which vice | pays to virtue. | — True merit 

32 does not depend | on time, | nor fashion. 

33 Silence | is the surest course | for him who 

34 distrusts himself. | — Do not put off 

35 till to-morrow | what you can do | to-day. 

10 



110 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 On ne donne rien | si facilement | que les conseils. 

2 Qui n'a point de sens | a trente ans | n'en aura jamais. 

3 Je ne crois pas | que la vraie amitie | puisse 

4 exister J entre des person nes | qui ne sont pas vertueuses. 

5 Le chagrin | et l'inquietude j ne remedient a rien ; 

6 ils nous rendenf [ encore plus malheureux | dans l'infortune. 

7 L'amour-propre | est le plus grand | de tous les flatteurs. 

8 Si nous ne nous flattions pas nous-memes, 

9 la flatterie des autres | ne nous pourrait nuire. 

10 Quand les vices | nous quittent, | nous nous flattons 

11 que c'est nous | qui les quittons. 

12 Mettez-vous toujours | a la place | de celui a qui 

13 vous voulez faire | une injure; | vous 

14 ne l'offenserez jamais. | — Si vous desirez 

15 etre heureux | quand vous serez vieux, | soyez 

16 tempere | tandis que vous etes jeune. 

17 La patience | est le meilleur remede | contre 

18 les calomnies ; | le temps, tot ou tard | decouvre la verite. 

19 Le moyen le plus sur | de se consoler | de tout ce qui 

20 peut arriver, | c'est de s'attendre toujours au pire. 

21 Le merite et la grandeur d'un homme | doivent toujours 

22 se mesurer sur sa vertu, | et non pas sur sa fortune. 

23 Le mauvais usage que nous faisons | de notre prosperity, 

24 est bien souvent la cause | de nos malheurs. 

25 La plupart des hommes | sacrifient frequemment tous 

26 leurs moyens | a des esperances eloignees et trompeuses. 

27 II faut souvent | autant d'adresse et d'habilete | pour savoir 

28 dire la verite, | que pour la taire. 

29 La prudence est le pilote | de toutes les vertus. 

30 Le coeur d'une mere | est le chef-d'oeuvre de la nature. 

31 Le veritable honneur | consiste toujours | a faire ce que 

32 notre devoir | exige de nous, | quelque bas, | et 

33 quelque penible | que ce devoir nous paraisse. 

34 Aimez DIEU | de tout votre coeur, | de toute 

35 votre ame ; | et votre prochain | comme vous meme. 






FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. Ill 

1 People give nothing | so readily | as advice. 

2 He who has no sense | at thirty | will never have any. 

3 1 do not believe | that true friendship | can 

4 exist | between people | who are not virtuous. 

5 Sorrow | and disquiet [ are remedies for nothing ; 

6 they make us | still more wretched | in ill fortune. 

7 Self-love | is the greatest | of all flatterers. 

8 If we did not flatter ourselves, 

9 the flattery of others | could not hurt us. 

10 When vices | forsake us, | we flatter ourselves 

11 that it is we | who forsake them. 

12 Put yourself always | in the place | of him to whom 

13 you would do | an injury; | you 

14 will never offend him. | — If you wish 

15 to be happy | when you are old, | be 

16 temperate | when you are young. 

17 Patience | is the best remedy | against 

18 calumnies : | time, sooner or later, | discovers the truth. 

19 The surest method j of consolation | against all that 

20 can happen, | is, always to expect the worst. 

21 The merit and greatness of a man | should always 

22 be measured by his virtue, | and not by his fortune. 

23 The bad use which we make | of our prosperity, 

24 is very often the cause | of our misfortunes. 

25 Most men | frequently sacrifice all 

26 their means | to distant and doubtful Jiopes. 

27 It often requires | as much address and skill | to know 

28 how to tell the truth, | as to conceal it. 

29 Prudence is the | pilot of all virtues. 

30 The heart of a mother | is the master-work of Nature. 

31 True honour | always consists | in doing what 

32 our duty | requires of us, | however mean | and 

33 however troublesome | that duty may appear to us. 

34 Love GOD | with all your heart, | with all 

35 your soul ; | and your neighbor | as yourself. 



112 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

PHRASES FAMILIERES. 

1 Bon jour, Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle. 

2 Bon soir, Messieurs, Mesdames, Mesdemoiselles. 

3 Bonne nuit, papa, maman, je vais me coucher. 

4 Comment vous portez-vous ? Parfaitement bien. 

5 Je me porte bien, je vous remercie. Et vous-meme? 

6 Toute votre famille se porte-t-elle bien ? Oui, Monsieur. 

7 Comment se porte monsieur votre pere, madame votre mere ? 

8 Pas tres-bien. II y a quelque temps qu'ils sont indisposes. 

9 Y a-t-il long-temps que vous etes ici ? Non, Madame. 

10 Je veux dejeuner, diner, souper. Donnez-moi du pain, 

11 du fromage, du beurre, de la viande, du poisson. 

12 Apportez-moi un couteau propre, une fourchette, 

13 une cuiller, une serviette; passez-moi le sel, le poivre, 

14 la moutarde. Quelle viande y a-t-il dans ce plat? 

15 Donnez une autre assiette a ce monsieur. Depechez-vous. 

16 Avez-vous dejeune, monsieur? Pas encore, et j'ai bien faim. 

17 Garcon, le dejeuner est-il pret ? Donnez-nous du the, 

18 du cafe, du chocolat, du sucre, des petits pains, des roties. 

19 Je prefere une rdtie au beurre. Le cafe n'est pas assez fort. 

20 Le the est trop faible. II n'est pas assez sucre. II est froid. 

21 Voici des saucisses, du jambon, de la volaille, des oeufs. 

22 Cette creme est excellente. Le lait n'est pas chaud, donnez- 

23 Faites-nous le plaisir de diner avec nous? Volontiers. [m'en. 

24 Mettez un couvert pour monsieur. On va mettre le couvert. 

25 On a servi. Mettons-nous a table, 

26 Asseyez-vous a cote de mademoiselle. Donnez un siege a M. 

27 J'aime beaucoup la soupe a la francaise. Ce pain est rassis. 

28 Aimez-vous les legumes ? Donnez-moi du pain tendre. 

29 Permettez-moi de vous servir de cette perdrix. 

30 Vous enverrai-je un morceau de cette volaille — de ce dindon ? 

31 Je vous servi rai des pommes de terre. Voila des carottes, des 

32 Voulez-vous une tranche de pouding ? — de la salade ? [choux. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 113 



FAMILIAR PHRASES. 

1 Good morning, Sir, Madam, Miss. 

2 Good evening, Gentlemen, Ladies, young Ladies. 

3 Good night, papa, mamma, I am going to bed. 

4 How do you do ? Perfectly well. 

5 I am well, I thank you. And yourself? 

6 Is all your family in good health ? Yes, Sir. 

7 How is your father, your mother ? 

8 Not very well. They have been indisposed for some time. 

9 Have you been here long? No, madam. 

10 I wish to breakfast, dine, sup. Give me some bread, 

11 some cheese, some butter, some meat, some fish. 

12 Bring me a clean knife, a fork, 

13 a spoon, a napkin ; hand me the salt, the pepper, 

14 the mustard. What meat is there in that dish ? 

15 Give that gentleman another plate. Make haste. 

16 Have you breakfasted, Sir ? Not yet, and I am very hungry. 

17 Waiter, is breakfast ready? Give us some tea, 

18 some coffee, some chocolate, some sugar, rolls, toast. 

19 1 prefer some toast and butter. The coffee is not strong enough. 

20 The tea is too weak. It is not sweet enough. It is cold. 

21 Here are sausages, ham, poultry, eggs. [some. 

22 That cream is excellent. The milk is not warm, give me 

23 Will you favor us with your company at dinner ? Willingly. 

24 A cover for this gentleman. The cloth will be laid presently. 

25 Dinner is on the table. Let us sit down at table. 

26 Please to take a seat by this young lady. Give a seat to M. 

27 I am very fond of French soup. This bread is stale. 

28 Are you fond of vegetables ? Give me some fresh bread. 

29 Give me leave to help you to some of this partridge. 

30 Shall I send you a piece of this fowl — of this turkey? 

31 I will help you to potatoes. There are carrots, cabbages. 

32 Will you have a slice of pudding? — some salad? 

10 * 



114 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 Un morceau de cette tourte aux pommes ? Je vous rends graces, 

2 Cette viande est bien cuite — peu cuite — trop cuite. 

3 Mon dejeuner consiste ordinairement de deux cotelettes. 

4 Mon frere se contente de deux oeufs a la coque : 

5 Je ne prends jamais de dessert, et je dine d'un seul plat. 

6 Madame, j'ai l'honneur de boire a votre sante. 

7 Que voulez-vous boire? Je ne bois jamais que de Feau, 

8 Donnez-moi du vin de Bordeaux — du cidre doux: 

9 de la bierre — du vin de Champagne — du Bourgogne. 

10 Passez-moi un bon couteau a decouper. 

11 Vous n'avez pas mis la theiere sur la table — la cafetiere* 

12 Desirez-vous une autre tasse de the — de cafe — de lait? 

13 Apportez-moi des cuillers, des soucoupes et les pinces. 

14 Voulez-vous du sucre blanc ou de la cassonade? 

15 Prendrez-vous un autre verre de vin? Pas davantage, 

16 je vous remercie. Aimez-vous la gelee? En voici. 

17 Comment avez-vous trouve les huitres? Excellentes. 

18 Elles sont bien fraiches. Je les aime beaucoup, surtout 

19 quand elles sont frites, ou etuvees, ou meme crues. 

20 Je suis bien las ; j'ai beaucoup marche. Je vais me coucher* 

21 Mon lit est-il fait? Les draps sont-ils propres et sees? 

22 Garcon, portez ma malle dans ma chambre a coucher. 

23 Votre chambre est prete. Menez-y-moi ; je vous suis. 

24 Etes-vous sur que ces draps n'aient pas servi? 

25 Voici un bassin, un pot a Peau, du savon, un verre. 

26 Donnez-moi mon bonnet de nuit et mes pantoufles. 

27 Apportez-moi aussi mon essuie-main et une brosse a dents. 

28 Aidez-moi a me deshabiller. Tirez les rideaux. 

29 Fermez les volets. Laisserai-je la chandelle allumee? 

30 Eteignez-la. Allumez la veilleuse. Vous pouvez vous en al- 

31 N'oubliez pas de m' eveiller demain de bon matin. [ler 

32 A quelle heure desirez-vous que je vous eveille? 

33 Entre cinq et six heures. Je n'y manquerai pas, comptez sur 

34 Y a-t-il une sonnette dans cette chambre ? Ou est elle? [moi. 

35 Apportez-moi une autre couverture, car, je n'en ai que deux, 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 115 

1 A piece of this apple-pie? I return you many thanks. 

2 This meat is well done — rare — too much done. 

3 My breakfast consists generally of two mutton chops. 

4 My brother contents himself with two soft eggs. 

5 I never take dessert, and I make my dinner of a single dish. 

6 Madam, I have the honor of drinking your health. 

7 What will you drink? 1 never drink any thing but water. 

8 Give me some Bordeaux wine — sweet cider : 

9 beer — Champaign wine — Burgundy. 

10 Pass me a good carving-knife. 

11 You have not put the tea-pot on the table — the coffee-pot. 

12 Do you wish another cup of tea — of coffee — of milk? 

13 Bring me some spoons, some saucers, and the sugar-tongs. 

14 Will you have white sugar, or brown sugar? 

15 Will you take another glass of wine? Not any more, 

16 I thank you. Are you fond of jelly? Here is some. 

17 How did you find the oysters? Excellent. 

18 They are very fresh. I am very fond of them, especially 

19 when they are fried, or stewed, or even raw. 

20 I am very tired ; I have walked a great deal. I am going to bed. 

21 Is my bed made? Are the sheets clean and dry? 

22 Waiter, carry my trunk into my bed-room. 

23 Your room is ready. Show me the way ; I follow you. 

24 Are you sure that these sheets have not been used ? 

25 Here is a basin; a pitcher, some soap, a tumbler. 

26 Give me my night-cap and my slippers. 

27 Bring me, also, my towel and a tooth-brush. 

28 Help me to undress. Draw the curtains. 

29 Fasten the shutters. Shall I leave the candle burning? 

30 Blow it out. Light the night-lamp. You may withdraw. 

31 Do not forget to awake me, to-morrow, early. 

32 At what o'clock do you wish me to awake you? 

33 Between five and six o'clock. I will not fail, rely upon me. 

34 Is there a bell in this room? Where is it? 

35 Bring me another blanket, for I have but two. 



116 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 Je prefererais un bon matelas, a ce lit de plume. 

2 J'ai oublie de vous demander a quelle heure part la diligence, 

3 Retenez-moi une place dans le fond de la voiture. 

4 Qu'on mette mon porte-manteau en lieu de surete. 

5 Vous attacherez ma malle vous-meme. Entendez-vous ? 

6 Demandez mon memoire. — Je I'ai apporte avec moi. 

7 II se monte a vingt-cinq dollars. — C'est fort cher. 

8 Je veux ecrire une lettre. Quand part la malle ? 

9 Allez voir si j'ai une lettre, poste restante. 

10 Allez me chercher une feuille de beau papier a lettre, 

11 une bonne plume metallique, de l'encre bien noire, 

12 un canif, une regie et du sable; tout ce qui est necessaire. 

13 Cette encre est beaucoup trop epaisse, elle ne coule pas. 

14 La lettre est ecrite, pliez-la. J'ai oublie d'y mettre la date. 

15 Quel jour est-ce aujourd'hui? C'est dimanche, lundi, 

16 mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, samedi, Etes-vous sur? 

17 Faites l'enveloppe, et cachetez ma lettre tout de suite, 

18 Avec de la cire, ou avec un pain a cacheter? Peu importe. 

19 Portez cette lettre a la poste. N'oubliez pas de l'affranchir. 

20 Revenez bientot. Je serai de retour avant huit heures. 

21 Je veux m'habiller. Allumez du feu dans ma chambre. 

22 Faites chauffer un peu d'eau. II me faut du linge blanc. 

23 Oteztoutes les hardes que vous voyez dans ce tiroir. 

24 Ou est ma robe de chambre ? Donnez-moi des bas de soie, 

25 Mes souliers sont-ils nettoyes comme il faut. Voyez. 

26 II faut que je me lave les mains, la bouche, le visage, 

27 Voici vos rasoirs, vos ciseaux, votre cuir a rasoirs. 

28 La blanchisseuse vient d'apporter votre linge. 

29 II n'y manque rien. J'ai paye son memoire. 

30 Donnez moi une cravate noire, et un mouchoir blanc. 

31 Je mettrai ces gants-ci, ils me plaisent plus que ceux-la. 

32 Brossez mon chapeau, mon habit, mes pantalons, 

33 et, s'il pleut, montez-moi mes bottes et un parapluie. 

34 Si quelqu'un me demande, dites que je serai bientot de retour. 

35 Ce livre me plait : c'est dommage qu'il ne soit pas relie. 



FIKST LESSORS IN FRENCH. 117 

1 I would prefer a good mattrass to this feather-bed. 

2 I forgot to ask you at what time the stage-coach starts. 

3 Secure a place for me in the back part of the coach. 

4 Have my portmanteau put in a safe place. 

5 You will fasten on my trunk yourself. Do you hear? 

6 Ask for my bill. — I have brought it with me. 

7 It amounts to twenty-five dollars. — It is very high. 

8 I wish to write a letter. When does the mail leave? 

9 Go and see if there is a letter for me at the post-office. 
10 Go and fetch me a sheet of fine letter paper, 

11a good metallic pen, very black ink, 

12 a penknife, a ruler, and sand; all that is necessary. 

13 This ink is a great deal too thick, it does not run. 

14 The letter is written, fold it. I have forgotten to date it. 

15 What day is this? It is Sunday, Monday, 

16 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Are you 

17 Make up the cover, and seal my letter directly. [sure? 

18 With sealing-wax or with a wafer? It matters little. 

19 Carry this letter to the post-office. Do not forget to frank it. 

20 Make haste back. I will be back before eight o'clock. 

21 I wish to dress myself. Light a fire in my room. 

22 Warm a little water. I want some clean linen. 

23 Take out all the clothes that you see in this drawer. 

24 Where is my dressing-gown ? Give me silk stockings. 

25 Are my shoes cleaned perfectly. See. 

26 I must wash my hands, my mouth, my face. 

27 Here are your razors, your scissors, your razor-strop. 

28 The washer-woman has just brought your clothes. 

29 There is nothing wanting. I have paid her bill. 

30 Give me a black cravat, and a white pocket handkerchief. 

31 I will put on these gloves, I like them better than those. 

32 Brush my hat, my coat, my pantaloons, 

33 and, if it rains, bring up my boots, and an umbrella. 

34 Should anybody call, say I shall soon be back. 

35 This book pleases me ; it is a pity that it is not bound. 



118 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 Vous pouvez le faire relier. Quelle reliure voulez-vous? 

2 Une jolie reliure. — Elle ne sera pas bon marche. 

3 Quand publiera-t-on le nouveau catalogue de ce libraire ? 

4 II paraitra, au plus tard, vers la fin du mois prochain. 

5 Je voudrais acheter les oeuvres completes de Racine. 

6 J'en ai un tres joli exemplaire, relie en maroquin vert, 

7 dore sur tranche. Je le prends, le format m'en plait assez. 

8 Dites-moi s'il vous plait quelle heure il est. 

9 Quelle heure est il ? II est une heure, deux heures. 

10 II est de bonne heure. II est tard, il n'est pas tard. 

11 II est midi. II n'est pas encore minuit. 

12 II est une heure et un quart, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, &c. &c. 

13 II est une heure et demie, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, &c. &c. 

14 II est une heure trois quarts, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, &c. &c. 

15 II est une heure moins un quart, 2, 3, 4, 5, &c. &c. 

16 II est bien pres d'une heure, de deux heures, &c. 

17 II est une heure et une minute, deux minutes, dec. 

18 II y a soixante secondes dans une minute. 

19 Ma montre est juste, elle avance, elle retarde. 

20 Cette horloge retarde d'une minute, avance, &c. 

21 Votre montre est arretee : elle s'arrete quelquefois. 

22 N'avez-vous pas, comme moi, oublie de la remonter? 

23 Cette pendule ne va pas bien; faites la raccommoder. 

24 Envoyez-la a mon horloger, qui est fort habile. 

25 Vous avez la une superbe montre a repetition. 

26 J'irai vous voir sur les onze heures ; vers midi. 

27 Est-ce une montre d'or que vous avez achetee? 

28 II est midi precis, une heure precise — 2 heures precises. 

29 Une heure vient de sonner. Deux heures viennent de sonner. 

30 Une heure va sonner. Quelle heure est-ce qu'il sonne? 

31 Voyez quelle heure il est a votre montre ? 

32 Cette montre est une patraque. Elle ne vaut rien. 

33 Le grand ressort est casse. L'aiguille ne marque pas. 

34 Le cadran solaire ne s'accorde jamais avec ma pendule. 

35 Je regie ma montre sur Phorloge de la ville. 



FIRST LESSORS IM FRENCH. 119 

1 You may have it bound. What binding will you have? 

2 A handsome binding. It will not be cheap. 

3 When will be published this bookseller's new catalogue? 

4 It will appear, at the latest, towards the end of next month. 

5 I would like to buy the complete works of Racine. 

6 I have a very pretty copy of it bound in green morocco, 

7 with gilt edges. I take it, the size pleases me much. 

8 Tell me, if you please, what o'clock it is. 

9 What o'clock is it 1 It is one o'clock, two o'clock. 

10 It is early. It is late, it is not late. 

11 It is noon. It is not yet midnight. 

12 It is a quarter past one, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, &c. &c. 

13 It is half past one, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, &c. &c. 

14 It is three quarters after one, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, &c. &c. 

15 It wants a quarter to one, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, &c. &c. 

16 It is very near one o'clock, two o'clock, &c. 

17 It is one minute past one, two minutes, &c. 

18 There are sixty seconds in one minute. 

19 My watch is right, it goes too fast, it goes too slow. 

20 This clock is one minute too slow, too fast, &c. 

21 Your watch is stopped : it sometimes stops. 

22 Did you not, like myself, forget to wind it up? 

23 This clock does not go well : have it mended. 

24 Send it to my watchmaker, who is very skilful. 

25 You have there a superb repeating watch. 

26 I will call on you towards eleven, towards noon. 

27 Is it a gold watch that you bought ? 

28 It is twelve o'clock exactly, one o'clock exactly, two o'clock 

29 It has just struck one. It has just struck two. [exactly. 

30 It is going to strike one. What hour does it strike ? 

31 See what o'clock it is by your watch. 

32 This watch is a mere toy. It is worth nothing. 

33 The main spring is broken. The hand does not move. 

34 The sun-dial never agrees with my clock. 

35 I set mv watch bv the town clock. 



120 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 Autrefois je la reglais sur celle de la Bourse. 

2 J'aime toujours a me retirer de bonne heure. 

3 II se fait tard. La June se leve. II fait clair de lune. 

4 Le serein commence a tomber. La nuit s'approche. 

5 Le soleil vient de se coucher. II fait nuit a present. 

6 L'annee astronomique est de 365 jours, 5 heures, 49 minutes. 

7 Dans les annees bissextiles, Fevrier a vingt-neuf jours. 

8 Venez me voir dans la matinee, I'apres-midi, la soiree. 

9 II travaille depuis le matin jusqu'au soir. 

10 Janvier, Mars, Mai, Juillet, Aout, Octobre et 

11 Decembre ont 31 jours: Avril, Juin, Septembre 

12 et Novembre en ont 30 ; Fevrier en a 28 ou 29. 

13 Les saisons sont, le printemps, Pete, Pautomne et l'hiver 

14 Venez la semaine prochaine, le mois prochain. 

15 Je le vis la semaine passee, ou la semaine derniere. 

16 Je vous verrai dans huit jours, d'aujourd'hui en huit. 

17 Je le payai il y a aujourd'hui quinze jours. 

18 II vient tous les jours, tous les deux jours, tous les trois jours. 

19 Quel temps fait-il? II fait beau temps. II fait beau. 

20 Le temps est lourd ; couvert. II fait mauvais temps. 

21 II fait du vent. Le temps s'eclaircit. II fait chaud. 

22 II fait froid. II fait un temps doux, sec, humide. 

23 II fait du brouillard. II va pleuvoir ; il y a apparence. 

24 Restons ici jusqu'a ce que la pluie soit passee. 

25 Mettons nous a couvert. II pleut maintenant a verse. 

26 La pluie passera bientot ; ce n'est qu'une ondee. 

27 Le temps est a la pluie. Nous aurons de Forage. 

28 Je vois l'arc-en-ciel. C'est, dit-on, signe de beau temps. 

29 Le temps commence a se remettre au beau. 

30 II neige a gros flocons — il grele — il gele. 

31 Regardez la girouette. Le vent vient du sud. 

32 La glace est fort epaisse. Savez-vous patiner ? 

33 Allons acheter des patins. II degelera bientot. 

34 A present il fait une chaleur etouffante. Allons a l'ombre. 

35 Allons plutot nous baigner. Je ne peux souffrir la chaleur. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 121 

1 Formerly, I regulated it by that of the Exchange. 

2 I always like to retire early. 

3 It is growing late. The moon is rising. Tt is moon-light. 

4 The dew begins to fall. The night comes on. 

5 The sun has just set. It is dark, now. 

6 The astronomical year has 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes. 

7 In Leap-year, February has 29 days. 

8 Come to see me in the morning, the afternoon, the evening. 

9 He works from morning until night. 

10 January, March, May, July, August, October, and 

11 December have 31 days; April, June, September, 

12 and November have 30 : February has 28 or 29. 

13 The seasons are, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. 

14 Come next week, next month. 

15 I saw him last week. 

16 1 will see you in a week, or to-day week. 

17 I paid him this day fortnight. 

18 He comes every day, every other day, every third day. 

19 How is the weather? It is fine weather. It is fine. 

20 The weather is close ; cloudy. It is bad weather. 

21 It is windy. The weather is clearing up. It is hot. 

22 It is cold. The weather is mild, dry, damp. 

23 It is foggy. It is going to rain, it is likely. 

24 Let us stay here till the rain is over. 

25 Let us shelter ourselves. It now rains very fast. 

26 The rain will soon be over, it is but a shower. 

27 It threatens to rain. We shall have a storm. 

28 I see the rainbow. It is, they say, a sign of fair weather. 

29 The weather begins to be fair again. 

30 It snows in great flakes — it hails — it freezes. 

31 Look at the weather-cock. The wind comes from the south. 

32 The ice is very thick. Do you know how to skate ? 

33 Let us go and buy skates. It will soon thaw. 

34 Now it is sultry hot. Let us go into the shade. 

35 Let us rather go and bathe. I cannot bear the heat. 

11 



122 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 II tonne, il eclaire. Quel coup de tonnerre ! 

2 Etes-vous malade? Je ne suis pas bien. Qu'avez-vous ? 

3 J'ai un gros rhume. J'ai tousse toute la nuit. 

4 J'ai la fievre — mal a la gorge — mal a la tete. 

5 Votre mere est fort enrouee — elle a une grosse toux. 

6 Elle a mal au cote. Elle a mal aux dents. 

7 On lui a mis les ventouses, ensuite les vesicatoires. 

8 Elle ne veut prendre aucune medecine. Elle est en danger. 

9 Qui est son medecin ? Que dit-il ? II pense qu'elle mourra. 

10 Mon pere va mieux. Je suis sur qu'il se retablira. 

11 Allez-vous a 1'ecole ? Qu' apprenez-vous ? 

12 J'apprends l'arithmetique, la grammaire, l'histoire. 

13 Quoi encore? La geographie, la logique, &c. 

14 Savez- vous votre lecon ? Venez la reciter. 

15 Ecrivez votre theme. Nettoyez votre ardoise. 

16 Cherchez votre crayon — votre eponge — votre canif. 

17 Voulez-vous me tailler une bonne plume? 

18 Ne remuez pas la table. Votre cahier est perdu. 

19 Voulez-vous venir avec moi au marche ? Volontiers. 

20 Combien coutent ces poulets — ces canards — ces pigeons ? 

21 Achetons du beurre — des ceufs frais — du veau — du mouton. 

22 Quel beau gigot de mouton ! Voici de l'agneau — du pore. 

23 Nous prendrons une alose — du saumon — des harengs. 

24 Je n'aime pas les anguilles — je prefere une morue fraiche. 

25 On dit que les homards ne sont pas sains. [de cerises. 

26 Je ne vois pas de peches, de melons, d'abricots, de prunes, 

27 Voici des petits pois, des betteraves, de 1'oseille, des navets, 

28 Faites monter le tailleur. II me faut un habit. [des feves. 

29 Vous voulez dire un habillement complet. 

30 J'ai aussi besoin d'un gilet et d'une culotte. 

31 Montrez-moi des echantillons. J'irai acheter le drap. 

32 Le cordonnier frappe a la porte ; il apporte vos escarpins. 

33 Les derniers souliers que vous m'avez faits ne valaient rien. 

34 L'empeigne de ces souliers parait assez bonne. 

35 La semelle est mince comme du papier. Le talon est trop haut. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 123 

1 It thunders — it lightens. What a clap of thunder ! 

2 Are you sick ? I am not well. What is the matter with you? 

3 I have a bad cold. I coughed the whole night. 

4 I have a fever — a sore throat — the headache. 

5 Your mother is very hoarse — she has a severe cough. 

6 She has a pain in her side. She has the toothache. 

7 She has been cupped, then blistered. 

8 She will not take any medicine. She is in danger, [will die. 

9 Who is her physician ? What does he say ? He thinks she 

10 My father is doing better. I am sure he will recover. 

11 Do you go to school? What do you learn? 

12 I learn arithmetic, grammar, history. 

13 What else? Geography, logic, &c. 

14 Do you know your lesson? Come and recite it 

15 Write your exercise. Clean your slate. 

16 Look for your pencil — your sponge — your penknife. 

17 Will you make me a good pen? 

18 Do not shake the table. Your copy-book is lost. 

19 Will you come with me to market? Willingly. 

20 What is the price of these chickens — ducks — pigeons? 

21 Let us buy butter — fresh eggs — veal — mutton. 

22 What a fine leg of mutton ! Here is lamb — pork. 

23 We shall take a shad — some salmon — herrings. 

24 I am not fond of eels — I prefer a fresh cod. 

25 They say that lobsters are not wholesome. 

26 I see no peaches, melons, apricots, plums, cherries. 

27 Here are green peas, beets, sorel, turnips, beans. 

28 Bid the tailor come up. I want a coat. 

29 You mean to say a complete suit of clothes. 

30 I want also a waistcoat and small-clothes. 

31 Show me patterns. I will go and buy the cloth. 

32 The shoemaker knocks at the door ; he brings your pumps. 

33 The last shoes you made for me were good for nothing. 

34 The upper leather of these shoes looks pretty good. 

35 The sole is as thin as paper. The heels are too high. 



124 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 On ne porte plus de boucles a present. On porte des rubans, 

2 Je ne veux pas de souliers carres. Arrondissez-les, 

3 sans les faire ni carres ni pointus. 

4 Essayez-les-moi. Ou est mon chausse-pied ? Le voici. 

5 Ces escarpins me serrent trop. Ayez un peu de patience. 

6 Ce cuir-la prete comme un gant. lis s'elargiront assez 

7 en les portant. lis me font mal. Dechaussez-moi. 

8 Je mettrai vos souliers en forme, et je les rapporterai demain. 

9 Ce drap-la est de huit dollars. Est-ce la le dernier prrx? 

10 Quelle doublure voulez-vous? Cette couleur me sied ; 

11 mais elle passera bientot. Quand aurai-je mon habit? 

12 Vous I'aurez a la fin de la semaine, sans faute. 

13 II me faut de la toile pour une douzaine de chemises. 

14 Dites-moi quel en est le juste prix, sans surfaire. 

15 C'est trop. Elle me revient a plus que vous ne m'en offrez. 

16 Vous m'enverrez ce paquet dans environ deux heures d'ici. 

17 Regardez dans le miroir, cet habit vous va a merveille. 

18 La robe de cette dame la serre trop. Qu'en pensez-vous? 

19 Les manches sont trop etroites ; il faut y retoucher. 

20 Les boutonnieres ne sont pas bien travail lees. 

21 La doublure n'est pas bien cousue. Elle est faufilee. 

22 Pretez-moi une aiguille, une epingle et du fil. 

23 II me reste de la soie, de la laine et du coton. 

24 Cette couleur est trop claire, celle-ci est trop foncee. 

25 Ourlez ce collet, ce tablier, et ce mouchoir de poche; 

26 ensuite vous raccommoderez mon fichu brode. 

27 Mon chale est dechire. Je vais mettre mon manteau. 

28 Ma ceinture est trop etroite. Tes mitaines sont la. 

29 N'admirez-vous pas sonchapeau? Quelle belle plume! 

30 Ces fleurs artificielles sont parfaites. N'est-ce pas ? 

31 Quand irons nous au bal ? J'aime beaucoup la danse. 

32 Je valse rarement. On danse bien en France. 

33 La musique a de grands charmes pour moi. 

34 De tous les instruments de musique lequel pre ferez- vous? 

35 La harpe, le piano, le violon, la guitare, la flute. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 125 

1 They wear no buckles now-a-days. They wear ribands. 

2 I do not choose square-toed shoes. Round them, 

3 without making them either square or sharp pointed. 

4 Try them on me. Where is my shoeing-horn ? Here it is. 

5 These pumps pinch me too much. Have a little patience. 

6 That leather stretches like a glove. They will widen enough 

7 in the wearing. They hurt me. Pull off my shoes. 

8 I will put your shoes on the last, and bring them back to-mor- 

9 That cloth is eight dollars. Is that the lowest price? [row. 

10 What lining do you wish? This colour becomes me, 

1 1 but it will soon fade. When shall I have my coat ? 

12 You will have it at the end of the week, without fail. 

13 I want linen for a dozen of shirts. 

14 Tell me the exact price, without overcharging. 

15 It is too much. It stands me in more than you bid me for it. 

16 You will send me this bundle in about two hours hence. 

17 Look in the glass. That coat fits you to a hair. 

18 That lady's dress is too tight. What do you think of it? 

19 The sleeves are too tight; they must be altered. 

20 The button-holes are not well worked. 

21 The lining is not well sewed. It is basted in. 

22 Lend me a needle, a pin, and some thread. 

23 I have silk, worsted, and cotton left. 

24 That colour is too light ; this is too deep. 

25 Hem this collar, this apron, and this pocket-handkerchief; 

26 then you will mend my embroidered neck-handkerchief. 

27 My shawl is torn. I am going to put on my cloak. 

28 My belt is too narrow. Your mittens are there. 

29 Do you not admire her hat? What a fine feather! 

30 Those artificial flowers are perfect. Are they not ? 

31 When shall we go to the ball ? I am very fond of dancing. 

32 I seldom waltz. They dance well in France. 

33 Music has great charms for me. 

34 Of all musical instruments, which do you prefer? 

35 The harp, the piano, the violin, the guitar, the flute. 

11* 



1*26 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 Ou demeure le dentiste. J'ai mal aux dents. 

2 Est-ce une fluxion occasioned par une dent gatee ? 

3 J'eprouve une douleur violente. Examinez ma bouche. 

4 II faudra plomber cette dent cette semaine. 

5 Vos gencives sont gonflees. Arrachez cette dent. 

6 II ne faut pas Parracher tant que vous aurez 

7 la joue enflee. Tachez d'appaiser la douleur. 

8 Mettez dans le trou de la dent un peu de coton. 

9 Trempez ce coton dans de Tether. Je vais le faire. 

10 Servez-vous d'un oreiller de crin un peu dur. 

1 1 Limez cette dent, pour arreter le progres de la carie. 

12 Si la douleur continue, appliquez sur votre joue 

13 un cataplasme de fleurs de sureau ou de farine de lin. 

14 Venez avec moi chez le confiseur, pour acheter des bonbons. 

15 Combien vendez-vous ces dragees — ces pralines? 

16 Quelle espece de confitures prendrai-je? 

17 Voici des figues, des amandes, des pistaches. 

18 Je donnerais beaucoup pour du raisin de Fontainebleau. 

19 Menez-nous a l'eglise de St. Paul, ii y aura un bapteme. 

20 Le ministre presbyterien auquel vous m'avez presente 

21 doit precher ce soir. Son sermon vous interessera. 

22 C'est un des meilleurs predicateurs protestants. 

23 Nous irons un autre jour dans une eglise catholique, 

24 quand la grand'messe sera celebree par l'archeveque. 

25 Nous y verrons Teveque, les cures, les pretres, tout le clerge. 

26 Voulez-vous aller faire un tour de promenade duns le jardin ? 

27 Ces fleurs sont charmantes. — Regardez ces oeillets, 

28 ces roses, ces lis, ce jassemin, ces tubereuses. 

29 Prions le jardinier de nous donner un bouquet 

30 pour mademoiselle B. qui doit se marier aujourd'hui. 

31 Qui doit-elle epouser ? Un oflicier de marine. 

32 C'est un bon parti. — Quelle dot aura-t-elle? 

33 Quand est-ce qu'on fera la noce ? Ce soir. 

34 Qui doit les marier ? Notre chapelain. 

35 Y a-t-il long-temps qu'elle est fiancee? 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 127 

1 Where does the dentist live? I have the tooth-ache. 

2 Is it a swelling produced by a decayed tooth ? 

3 I feel a violent pain. Examine my mouth. 

4 This tooth will have to be plugged this week. 

5 Your gums are swelled. Extract this tooth. 

6 It must not be drawn as long as you have 

7 a swelled cheek. Try to allay the pain. 

8 Put a little cotton in the hollow of the tooth. 

9 Dip that cotton into ether. I am going to do it. 

10 Use a horse-hair pillow, rather hard. 

11 File this tooth to stop the progress of the caries. 

12 If the pain continue, apply to your cheek 

13 a poultice of elder-flower, or linseed flour. 

14 Come with me to the confectioner's to buy some sugar-plums. 

15 How much do you sell these sugar-plums, — burned almonds ? 

16 What kind of sweetmeats shall I take? 

17 Here are figs, almonds, pistachios, 

18 I would give a great deal for Fontainebleau grapes. 

19 Take us to St. Paul's church, there is to be a christening. 

20 The presbyterian minister to whom you introduced me, 

21 is to preach to-night. His sermon will interest you. 

22 He is one of the best protestant preachers. 

23 We will go, another day, to a Catholic church, 

24 when high mass will be celebrated by the archbishop. 

25 We will there see the bishop, the curates, the priests, all the 

26 Will you go and take a walk in the garden? [clergy. 

27 Those flowers are charming. Look at those pinks, 

28 those roses, those lilies, that jessamine, those tuberoses. 

29 Let us request the gardener to give us a nosegay, 

30 for Miss B. who is to be married to-day. 

31 Whom is she to marry ? A navy officer. 

32 It is a good match. — What marriage portion will she have? 

33 When will the wedding take place? To-night. 

34 Who is to marry them? Our chaplain. 

35 Has she been loner betrothed? 



128 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

1 PARTIES DU DISCOURS. 

2 Les parties du discours en francais sont ; Le nom 

3 ou le substantif, Particle, l'adjectif, le pronom, le 

4 verbe et le participe, qui sont variables ; l'adverbe, la 

5 preposition, la conjonction, et l'interjection, qui sont 

6 invariables. 

7 Les genres des noms, des articles, des pronoms et des 

8 adjectifs sont le masculin et le feminin. 

9 Les mots qui sont neutres en anglais sont, en francais, ou 

10 masculins ou feminins. Ex. : parlant d'un livre, il est bon y 

11 parlant d'une table, elle est bonne. 

12 La declinaison des noms et des pronoms, en francais comme 

13 en latin, est, pour diverses raisons, fortement recommandee. 

14 Les cas sont; le nominatif ou le sujet du verbe; 

15 le genitif, correspondant au " cas possessif" anglais; 

16 le datif ; l'accusatif ou le regime, ou l'objet, ou en 

17 anglais, le cas "objectif;" le vocatif et l'ablatif. 

18 En francais comme en anglais, le nominatif et 

19 l'accusatif des noms sont semblables. 

20 Les parties du discours qui sont variables ont deux nombres, 

21 savoir : le singulier et le pluriel. 

22 Certains adjectifs ont trois degres de comparaison, savoir : 

23 Le positif, comme grand; le comparatif, comme plus grand, 

24 moins grand que . . . , aussi grand que . . . / et le superlatif, 

25 Ex. : Le plus grand, le moins grand, tres-grand, fort grand. 

26 Les regies les plus importantes de la grammaire sont : 

27 Le verbe doit s'accorder avec son nominatif en nombre 

28 et en personne. Ex.: un homme est . . . plusieurs hommes sont. 

29 Les pronoms s'accordent avec les noms qu'ils represented 

30 en genre, en nombre et en personne. Parlant de Dieu, II est. 

31 Les articles, les adjectifs, les pronoms adjectifs s'accordent 

32 avec les noms auxquels ils appartiennent, en genre et en 

33 Ex. : mon pere et le sien sont heureux. [nombre. 

34 Les verbes actifs gouvernent l'accusatif: Aimez-le. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH, 129 

i PARTS OF SPEECH. 

2 The parts of speech in French are : The noun 

3 or substantive, the article, the adjective, the pronoun, the 

4 verb, and the participle, which are variable ; the adverb, the 

5 preposition, the conjunction, and the interjection, which are 

6 invariable, 

7 The genders of nouns, articles, pronouns, and 

8 adjectives, are the masculine and the feminine. 

9 The words which are neuter in English, are in French either 

10 masculine or feminine, Ex. : speaking of a book, It is good, 

1 1 speaking of a table, It is good. 

12 The declension of nouns and pronouns, in French as 

13 in latin, is, for various reasons, strongly recommended, 

14 The cases are: the nominative or subject of the verb; 

15 the genitive, corresponding to the English possessive case. 

16 the dative; the accusative or regimen, or object, or, in 

17 English, the objective case; the vocative, and the ablative. 

18 In French as in English, the nominative case and 

19 the accusative of nouns are alike. 

20 Those parts of speech which are variable have two numbers, 

21 namely: the singular and the plural. 

22 Certain adjectives have three degrees of comparison, viz : 

23 The positive, as, great ; the comparative, as, more great, 

24 less great than . . . as great as ... ; and the superlative, 

25 as, the greatest, the least great, very great. 

26 The most important rules of grammar are : 

27 A verb must agree with its nominative case in number 

28 and person. Ex. : a man is . . . several men are .... 

29 Pronouns agree with the nouns which they represent, 

30 in gender, number and person. Ex. : speaking of God, He is. 

31 Articles, adjectives, and adjective pronouns agree 

32 with the nouns to which they belong in gender and number. 

33 Ex. : my father and hers are happy. 

34 Active verbs govern the objective case : Love him. 



130 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

MOTS FRfiQUEMMENT EMPLOYES. 

1 Les quatre points cardinaux— Le nord, le sud, 

2 L'est, l'ouest. Jesus-Christ — le paradis. 

3 Notre Sauveur — un ange — 1'enfer — le diable — Satan 

4 Blanc, blanchatre, jaune, jaunatre, vert, verdatre, 

5 Rouge, rougeatre, gris, grisatre, bleu, bleuatre, ecarlate. 

6 Le careme. Vendredi saint. Noel. Paques. 

7 Un jour maigre. Mercredi des cendres. Le carnaval. Fete, 

8 Aveugle, borgne, sourd, boiteux, bossu, 

9 Bceuf — tranches de boeuf grillees, bouiili, ris de veau 

10 Du gibier, des becassines, des becasses, des canards sauvages, 

11 Un faisan, des beignets, une omelette, des ceufs durs, 

12 Une arete, le gosier, un maquereau, un saumon. 

13 Asperges, du celeri, da la laitue, des haricots. 

14 Du vin de Madere, du Xeres, une bouteille, une carafe, 

15 Un bouchon, un tire-bouchon, boucher, deboucher. 

16 Bottine, tire-botte, boucle, semelle, du cuir* 

17 Tabac, tabatiere, cigare, chiquer, fumer, 

18 Une prise de tabac, un parasol, des manches de mousseline. 

19 La salle a manger, le salon, le cabinet, bibliotheque, 

20 La cuisine, une casserole, un four, une pelle, un seau, 

21 L'ecurie, la cour, un puits, le cheval, chevaux. 

22 Rubans, un eventail, un manchon, une canne, un fouet. 

23 Charpentier, marteau, clou, la scie, scier, scieur de bois. 

24 Une planche, une poutre, un rabot, raboter, menuisier 

25 £beniste, meubles, meubler, une commode, une armoire. 

26 Couturiere, prendre la mesure, la derniere mode, un noeud, 

27 Une rosette, garniture, une ancienne pratique, travailler. 

28 Marchande de modes — ce ruban jure — il est trop voyant. 

29 Dentelle, crepe, un chapeau de Livourne, de paille d'ltalie. 

30 Le theatre, la comedie, la tragedie, acteur, actrice. 

31 La piece nouvelle. Jouer bien un role difficile. Opera. 

32 Bateau a vapeur, navire> vaisseau de guerre, chemin de fer. 



FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 131 



WORDS FREQUENTLY USED. 

1 The four cardinal points — the North, the South, 

2 The East, the West. Jesus-Christ — the paradise. 

3 Our Saviour — an angel — hell — the devil — Satan, 

4 White, whitish, yellow, yellowish, green, greenish, 

5 Red, reddish, grey, greyish, blue, bluish, scarlet. 

6 Lent. Good-friday. Christmas. Easter. 

7 A fish-day. Ash Wednesday. Shrove-tide. Holiday, 

8 Blind, blind of one eye, deaf, lame, hump-backed, 

9 Beef — beef-steaks, boiled beef, sweetbread. 

10 Game, snipes, wood-cocks, wild ducks, 

11 A pheasant, fritters, an omelet, hard eggs, 

12 A fish-bone, the throat, a mackerel, a salmon. 

13 Asparagus, celery, lettuce, kidney-beans. 

14 Madeira wine, Sherry wine, a bottle, a decanter, 

15 A cork, a cork-screw, to cork, to uncork. 

16 Half- boot, boot-jack, buckle, sole, leather. 

17 Tobacco, snuff-box, cigar, to chew tobacco, to smoke, 

18 A pinch of snuff, an umbrella, muslin sleeves. 

19 The dining-room, the parlour, closet, library, 

20 The kitchen, a pan, an oven, a shovel, a pail, 

21 The stable, the yard, a well, the horse, horses. 

22 Ribbons, a fan, a muff, a cane, a whip. 

23 Carpenter, hammer, nail, the saw, to saw, wood-sawyer. 

24 A board, a beam, a plane, to plane, joiner. 

25 Cabinet-maker, furniture, to furnish, a bureau, a closet. 

26 Dress-maker, to take the measure, the newest fashion, a bow, 

27 A rosette, trimming, an old customer, to work. 

28 A milliner — this ribbon does not match — it is too showy. 

29 Lace, crape, a Leghorn hat, or Italian straw-hat. - 

30 The theatre, the comedy, the tragedy, actor, actress. 

31 The new play. To play well a difficult part. Opera. 

32 Steam-boat, ship, ship of war, rail-road. 



132 FIRST LESSONS IN FRENCH. 

WORDS WHICH ARE SIMILAR IN BOTH LANGUAGES. 

1 Bible, temple, triple, double, trot, turban, Turc, Alcoran, 

2 suffrage, rendez-vous, rabbin, plume, plumage, syncope, 

3 relief, parricide, mage, machine, agaric, agriculture, serpent, 

4 aliment, armistice, bracelet, brigadier, rival, strophe, 

5 narration, homicide, suicide, relation, original, 

6 salutation, salivation, vain, turbulent, turbulence, 

7 octave, synagogue, trident, zoophyte, ventilation, vassal, 

8 vertical, versification, zig-zag, torture, transparent, Talmud, 

9 addition, multiplication, division, quotient, tube, torture, 

10 solstice, poison, animalcule, arsenal, sauce, sculpture, 

11 rectitude, alluvion, baron, auspice, romance, serge, 

12 siphon, assemblage, cage, carabine, client, 

13 stagnant, bigot, pot, potable, pontifical, patrimonial, 

14 avenue, caricature, fragment, horizon, fratricide, 

15 titillation, cascade, horoscope, ignoble, ignorance, 

16 plausible, cartilage, hotel, impromptu, imprudent, 

17 pistil, caprice, hydromel, incognito, inconsolable, 

18 pirate, central, indigo, jovial, lard, lassitude, large, 

19 champion, indigence, lance, latitude, longitude, globe, 

20 parasite, irascible, local, lucre, jujube, jalap, julep, 

21 charitable, intercession, locution, lustre, lot, long, 

22 chyle, intuition, loyal, lieutenant, lamentation, 

23 pantomime, oral, opulent, opulence, navigable, nation, nectar, 

24 opium, laudanum, obole, mucilage, microscope, membrane, 

25 olive, miracle, monument, citron, orange, combustible, 

26 octavo, quarto, manufacture, complaisance, colosse, 

27 oblong, madrigal, consul, corridor, diapason, divorce, 

28 misanthrope, philanthrope, manumission, contagion, 

29 contact, duel, embargo, engagement, essence, espalier, 

30 contour, dupe, excommunication, farce, flux, reflux, 

31 cordelier, discipline, discordant, excrescence, famine, 

32 matrimonial, permanent, cousin, culture, cyclope, ducat. 
Let the pupil give the definitions of the preceding words^ or 

use them in phrases of his oivn. 



No. 2 of Charles PicoL's Series of School Books. 
THE 

FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT: 

BEING 

A RECAPITULATION 

OF THE 

MOST IMPORTANT GRAMMATICAL EXAMPLES AND FACTS 

OF THE 

FRENCH LANGUAGE; 

WITH A KEY TO PRONUNCIATION, 

BY CHARLES PICOT. 



Quidquid proecipies, esto brevis. — Horace. 



A NEW AND IMPROVED EDITION. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

SOLD BY THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS. 
1843. 



W to) 






/ 



Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by 
CHARLES PICOT, 

in the clerk's office of the district court of the United States, in and for 
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 






J. FAGAN, STEREOTYPER. 



J. GIHON, PRINTER. 



(2) 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 





Article Indefini. 






a or an = un, une. 






Article definu 




the, 


le, la, T, 


les 


of the, 


du, de la, de l\ 


des 


to the, 


au, a la, a 1', 


aux 


from the, 


du, de la, de 1', 


des 



Article Partitif 
some, any, du, de la, de V, des. 

to some, any, a du, a de la, a de V, a des. 

Article Partitif avant un Adjectif 
some, any, de, d', de, d\ • 

to some, any, a de, a d', a de, a d\ 

REMARKS. 

Un, is used with nouns of the sing, n., masc. gender. 

Une, with nouns of the sing, n., feminine gender. 

D', instead of de, is used before a consonant. 

Le, du, au, are used before a consonant, with nouns of the 

masc. g. in the singular. 

It, instead of le, la, is used before a vowel. 

ha, used with nouns of the feminine g. plural number. 

Les, des, aux, used for both genders, in the plural. 

(3) 



FRENCH STUDENT S ASSISTANT. 



Adjectifs Possessifs. 



my, mon, 


ma, or 


mon,* 


mes. 


thy, ton. 


ta, or 


ton,* 


tes. 


his, her, its, son, 


sa, or 


son,* 


ses. 


ovr, notre, 


notre, 




nos. 


your, votre, 


votre, 




vos. 


their, leur, 


leur, 




leurs 



Pronoms Possessifs. 



le mien, la mienne, les miens, les miennes. 

le tien, la tienne, les tiens, les tiennes. 

les siens, les siennes. 

les notres, les notres. 

les votres, les v6tres. 

les leurs, les leurs. 



mine, 

thine, 

his, hers, its, le sien, la sienne, 

ours, le notre, la n6tre, 

yours, le votre, la votre, 

theirs, le leur, la leur, 



Adjectifs Demonstratifs. 

this, ce, or cet,t cette. these, ces. 

that f ce, or cet, cette. those, ces. 



Pronoms Demonstratifs. 



this, celui-ci, celle-ci. 
that, celui-la, celle-la. 

What is this ? 

What is that ? 



these, ceux-ci, celles-ci 
those, ceux-la, celies-la. 

Qu'est-ce que ceci ? 

Qu'est-ce que cela ? 



REMARKS. — *Mon, ton, son, are used instead of ma, ta, sa, before a 
vowel with a noun of the feminine gender, in the singular number. 

t Cet is used before a vowel with a noun of the masculine gender, in 
the singular number. 



FRENCH STUDENT S ASSISTANT. 5 

Adjectifs et Pronoms Indefinis, fyc. 
For both numbers and both genders. 

each, every, chaque, or tout, chaque, or toute. 

each one, chacun, chacune. 

either, Pun ou l'autre, Tune ou l'autre. 

both, Pun et l'autre, Tune et Pautre. 

both, tous deux, toutes deux, tous les deux, &c. 

one another, Pun Pautre, 1'une l'autre. 

one another, les uns les autres, les unes les autres. 

neither, ni Pun ni l'autre, ni Pune ni Pautre. 

no one, nul, nulle, personne. . . . ne. 

no man, aucun homme . . ne ; no lady, aucune dame . . ne. 

the same, le meme, la meme, les memes. 

several, plusieurs. 

all, tout, loute, tous, toutes. 

such, tel, telle, tels, telles. 

some, quelque, quelques. 

whoever, quiconque, or qui que ce soit. 

whatever, quoi que ce soit. 

IMPORTANT REMARK. 

The declining of nouns in the following manner, is, for vari- 
ous reasons, particularly recommended : — A child, &c, Un en- 
fant, d'un enfant, a un enfant. — Cet enfant est bon — J'aime cet 
enfant — le livre de cet enfant — Dites a cet enfant, &c. — Les 
enfants, des, &c. 

Decline in the same way, with or without articles, and in con- 
junction with adjectives of all kinds, many nouns and pronouns, 
the pronunciation or recollection of which may present difficulties. 

For the same reasons the verbs will have to be conjugated in 
the manner indicated at page 18, lines 20, &c, combined with 
all kinds of difficulties. 
1* 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 



1 


Pronoms personnels. 




2 Norn. 


Genitif. 


Datif. 


Accusatif. 


3 Je, moi, 


de moi, 


a moi, moi, me, m' 


moi, me, m 


4 tu, toi, 


de toi, 


a toi, toi, te, V 


toi, te, t\ 


5 il, lui, 


de lui, en, 


a lui, lui, 


lui, le, 1'. 


6 elle, 


d'elle, en, 


a elle, lui, 


elle, la, I\ 


7 nous, 


de nous, 


a nous, nous, 


nous. 


8 vous, 


de vous, 


a vous, vous, 


vous. 


9 ils, eux, 


d'eux, en, 


a eux, leur, 


eux, les. 


10 dies, 


d'elles, en, 


a elles, leur, 


elles,. les. 


11 on, 


de soi, en, 


a soi, soi, se, s', 


soi, se, s\ 



12 Pronoms relatifs. 

13 Qui, de qui, dont, a qui, que qu\ 

14 Qui, dont, que, qu\ (masc. and fern.) 

15 Lequel, duquel, auquel, lequel. 

16 Laquelle, delaquelle, a laquelle, laquelle. 

17 Lesquels, desquels, auxquels, lesquels. 

18 Lesquelles, desquelles, auxquelles, lesquelles. 

19 Pronoms interrogatifs. 

20 Qui, de qui, a qui, QUI, (not que) ? 

21 Quoi, de quoi, a quoi, que, qu' ? 



22 Dieu que j'aime. Qui aimez-vous ? Que dis-tu ? 

23 Qui est-ce qui l'a dit ? Qu'est-ce qu'il fait ? 



24 Moi-meme, toi-meme, lui-meme, elle-meme, soi-meme. 

25 Nous-memes, vous-memes, eux-memes, elles-memes. 



FRENCH STUDENT S ASSISTANT 



1 




Personal Pronouns. 




2 Nom. 


Genitive. 


Dative. 


Ace. or 


3 I, 


of me, 


to me, me, 


me. 


4 Thou, 


of thee, 


to thee, thee, 


thee. 


5 He, 


of him, 


to him, him, 


him. 


6 She, 


of her, 


to her, her, 


her. 


7 We, 


of us, 


to us, us, 


us. 


8 You, ye 


, of you, 


to you, you, 


you, 


9 They, 


of them, 


to them, them, 


them. 


10 They 


of them, 


to them, them, 


them. 



11 One, of one-self, to one-self, one-self, one-self. 



12 Relative Pronouns. 

13 Who, of whom, whose, to whom, whom. 

14 Which, of which, whose, to which, which. 

15 Which, of which, to which, which, (masc.) 

16 do feminine, singular number. 

17 do masculine plural number. 

18 do feminine plural number. 

19 Interrogative Pronouns. 

20 Who, of whom, to whom, whom. 

21 What, of what, to what, what? 



22 God whom I adore. Whom do you love? What do you say ? 

23 Who has said it? What is he doing? 



24 Myself, thyself, himself, herself, one-self. 

25 Ourselves, yourselves, themselves, themselves. 



FKENCH STUDENT S ASSISTANT. 



Nombres Cardinaux — Cardinal Numbers. 

1 un or une. 2 deux. 3 trois. 4 quatre. 5 cinq. 6 six. 
7 sept. 8 huit. 9 neufl 10 dix. 11 onze. 12 douze. 13 treize. 
14 quatorze. 15 quinze. 16 seize. 17 dix-sept. 18 dix-huit. 
19 dix-neuf. 20 vingt. 21 vingt-et-un. 22 vingt-deux, &c. 
30 trente. 31 trente-et-un. 41 quarante-et-un. 51 cinquante- 
et-un. 61 soixante-et-un. 70 soixante-et-dix. 71 soixante-onze. 
72 soixante-douze. 73 soixante-treize. 74 soixante-quatorze. 
75 soixante-quinze. 76 soixante-seize. 77 soixante-dix-sept. 
78 soixante-dix-huit. 79 soixante-dix-neuf. 80 quatre-vingts. 
81 quatre-vingt-un, &c. 90 quatre-vingt-dix. 91 quatre-vingt- 
onze. 92 quatre-vingt-douze, &c. 100 cent. 101 cent-un, &c. 
200 deux cents, 1000 mille. 2000 deux mille. 1,000,000 un 
million. 1841 mil huit cent quarante-et-un. 

Nombres Ordinaux — Ordinal Numbers. 

1st premier masc, premiere fern. 2d second, seconde, or 
deuxieme. 3d troisieme. 4th quatrieme. 5th cinquieme, &c. 
9th neuvieme. 11th onzieme, le onzieme, la onzieme, &c. 
21st vingt-ET-unieme. 31st, 41st, 51st, 61st. 

Fractions — Fractions. 

i un demi. J un tiers. \ un quart. \ un cinquieme, &c., like 
ordinal numbers. 

Remarques sur les Noms de Nombre. 

Use et„ only in 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 70. Ex. : vingt-e£-un. 
No elision takes place before onze, onzieme. Ex. : le onze. 
No consonant is joined to on — of onze, onzieme : les onze. 



FRENCH STUDENT S ASSISTANT. 9 

Quartre-vingts ends with 5, except only when it is followed by 
another number. Ex : quatre-vingt-un. Cent has no s in 200, 
300, &c, followed by a number: deux cent un. 1000 is mil, 
(and not mille) in dates. Ex : mil deux cent trois. A hundred 
is cent, a thousand, mille, a million un million. 

P of sept 7, and G of vingt 20, are always silent. 

The last letter of the French words for 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 
their compounds, is sounded, except only when they are used 
adjectively before a consonant. Ex : cinq livres, 61.71. When 
they are used adjectively before a vowel, the last consonant fol- 
lows the general rule : s final = z : f = v. — Ex : six amis, 
neuf amis. 

X = s in 6, 26, &c, in 17, 60, and their compounds. 
X = z in 18, 78, 98, &c, in 19, 79, 99, &c, deuxieme, &c. 
T is strongly sounded in 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. 
T is always silent in 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 
C = G in second, seconde, secondement, seconder. [&c. 



CONJUGATION OF VERBS. 

(The pupil must know them first in English.) 

ENGLISH OF THE MODEL VERBS. 

Infinitive Mood. Present Tense. 

1 To have. 2 be. 3 give. 4 punish. 5 owe. 6 sell. 7 
go. 8 send. 9 say. 10 do. 11 put. 12 be able. 13 see. 
14 be willing. 15 take. 16 believe. 17 fear. 18 offer. 19 
die. 20 serve. 21 be worth. 22 live. 23 be born. 24 lie. 
25 come. 26 sleep. 27 read. 28 write. 29 please. 30 
gather. 31 know. 32 beat. 33 drink. 34 reduce. 35 move. 
36 sit down. 37 conquer. 38 acquire. 39 boil. 40 run. 41 
flee. 42 clothe. 43 provide for. 44 foresee. 45 conclude. 
46 pickle. 47 sew. 48 grind. 49 resolve. 50 laugh. 51 
break. 52 follow. 53 milk. 54 know. 



10 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 



FRENCH MODEL VERBS. 

1, 2, 3, &c, refer to the English list, p. 9. 

Infinitif. Present, 

1 Avoir. 2 etre. 3 dormer. 4 punir. 5 devoir. 6 vend re. 
7 aller. 8 envoyer. 9 dire. 10 faire. 11 mettre. 12 pou- 
voir. 13 voir. 14 vouloir. 15 prendre. 16 croire. 17 crain- 
dre. 18 offrir. 19 mourir. 20 servir. 21 valoir. 22 vivre. 
23 naitre. 24 mentir. 25 venir. 26 dormir. 27 lire. 28 
ecrire. 29 plaire. 30 cueillir. 31 connaitre. 32 battre. 33 
boire. 34 reduire. 35 mouvoir. 36 s'asseoir. 37 vaincre. 38 
acquerir. 39 bouillir. 40 courir. 41 fuir. 42 vetir. 43 pour- 
voir. 44 pre voir. 45 conclure. 46 confire. 47 coudre. 48 
moudre. 49 resoudre. 50 rire. 51 rompre. 52 suivre. 53 
traire. 54 savoir. 

Participe Present. 

1 ayant. 2 etant. 3 donnant. 4 punissant. 5 devant. 6 
vendant. 7 allant. 8 envoyant. 9 disant. 10 faisant. 11 
mettant. 12 pouvant. 13 voyant. 14 voulant. 15 prenant. 
16 croyant. 17 craignant. 18 offrant. 19 mourant. 20 ser- 
vant. 21 valant. 22 vivant. 23 naissant. 24 mentant. 25 
venant. 26 dormant. 27 lisant. 28 ecrivant. 29 plaisant. 
30 cueillant. 31 connaissant. 32 battant. 33 buvant. 34 
reduisant. 35 mouvant. 36 s'asseyant. 37 vainquant. 38 
acquerant. 39 bouillant. 40 courant. 41 fuyant. 42 vetant. 
43 pourvoyant. 44 prevoyant. 45 concluant. 46 confisant. 
47 cousant. 48 moulant. 49 resolvant. 50 riant. 51 rom- 
pant. 52 suivant. 53 trayant. 54 sachant. 

Participe Passe. 

1 eu. 2 ete. 3 donne. 4 puni. 5 du. 6 vendu. 7 alle. 8 
envoye. 9 dit. 10 fait. 11 mis. 12 pu. 13 vu. 14 voulu. 15 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 11 

pris. 16 cm. 17 craint. 18 ofFert. 19 mort. 20 servi. 21 

valu. 22 vecu. 23 ne. 24 menti. 25 venu. 26 dormi. 27 

lu. 28 ecrit. 29 plu. 30 cueilli. 31 connu. 32 battu. 33 
bu. 34 reduit. 35 mu. 36 assis. 37 vaincu. 38 acquis. 

39 bouilli. 40 couru. 41 fui. 42 vetu. 43 pourvu. 44 

prevu. 45 conclu. 46 confit. 47 cousu. 48 moulu. 49 
resolu. 50 ri. 51 rompu. 52 suivi. 53 trait. 54 su. 



Indicatif Present. 



JeJ\ 

1 ai 

2 suis 

3 donne 

4 punis 

5 dois 

6 vends 

7 vais 

8 envoie 

9 dis 

10 fais 

11 mets 

12 peux 

13 vois 

14 veux 

15 prends 

16 crois 

17 crains 

18 offre 

19 mcurs 

20 sers 

21 vaux 

22 vis 

23 nais 

24 mens 



to, 

as 

es 

donnes 

punis 

^lois 

vends 

vas 

envoies 

dis 

fais 

mets 

peux 

vois 

veux 

prends 

crois 

crains 

ofFres 

meurs 

sers 

vaux 

vis 

nais 

mens 



•a 

est 

donne 

punit 

doit 

vend 

va 

envoie 

dit 

fait 

met 

peut 

voit 

veut 

prend 

croit 

craint 

offre 

meurt 

sert 

vaut 

vit 

nait 

ment 



nous, 
avons 
sommes 
donnons 
punissons 
devons 
vendons 
allons 
envoyons 
disons 
faisons 
mettons 
pouvons 
voyons 
voulons 
prenons 
croyons 
craignons 
offrons 
mourons 
servons 
valons 
vivons 
naissons 
mentons 



vous. Us. 

avez ont 

etes sont 

donnez donnent 
punissez punissent 

devez doivent 

vendez vendent 

allez vont 
envoyez envoient 

dites disent 

faites font 
mettez mettent 
pouvez peuvent 

voyez voient 

voulez veulent 

prenez prennent 

croyez croient 
craignez craignent 

offrez orTrent 

mourez meurent 

servez servent 

valez valent 

vivez vivent 

naissez naissent 

mentez mentent 



12 



FRENCH STUDENT S ASSISTANT. 



Je, j\ 


tUy 


Uy 


nous, 


vous, 


Us. 


25 viens 


viens 


vient 


venons 


venez 


viennent 


26 dors 


dors 


dort 


dormons 


dormez 


dorment 


27 lis 


lis 


lit 


lisons 


lisez 


lisent 


28 ecris 


ecris 


ecrit 


ecrivons 


ecrivez 


ecrivent 


29 plais 


plais 


plait 


plaisons 


plaisez 


plaisent 


30 cueille 


cueilles 


cueille 


cueillons 


cueillez 


cueillent 


31 connais 


connais 


connait 


connaissons 


— ez 


— ent 


32 bats 


bats 


bat 


battons 


battez 


battent 


33 bois 


bois 


boit 


buvons 


buvez 


boivent 


34 reduis 


reduis 


reduit 


reduisgjis 


— ez 


— ent 


35 meus 


meus 


mgut 


mouvons 


mouvez 


meuvent 


36 assieds 


assieds 


assied 


asseyons 


asseyez 


asseient 


37 vaincs 


vaincs 


vainc 


vainquons 


— ez 


— ent 


38 acquiers acquiers 


acquiert 


acquerons 


— ez 


— ierent 


39 bous 


bous 


bout 


bouillons 


— ez 


— ent 


40 cours 


cours 


court 


courons 


courez 


courent 


41 fuis 


fuis 


fuit 


fuyons 


fuyez 


fuient 


42 vets 


vets 


vet 


vetons 


vetez 


vetent 


43 pourvois pourvois 


pourvoit 


— voyons 


— voyez 


— -voient 


44 prevois 


prevois 


prevoit 


— voyons 


— voyez 


— voient 


45 conclus 


conclus 


conclut 


concluons 


— ez 


— ent 


46 confis 


confis 


confit 


— fisons 


— fisez 


— fisent 


47 couds 


couds 


coud 


cousons 


cousez 


cousent 


48 mouds 


mouds 


moud 


moulons 


moulez 


moulent 


49 resous 


resous 


resout 


resolvons 


resolvez 


resolvent 


50 ris 


ris 


rit 


rions 


riez 


rient 


51 romps 


romps 


rompt 


rompons 


rompez 


rompent 


52 suis 


suis 


suit 


suivons 


suivez 


suivent 


53 trais 


trais 


trait 


trayons 


trayez 


traient 


54 sais 


sais 


sait 


savons 


savez 


savent 



The pupil will observe that the 2d person sing, always ends 
in s, except peux, veux, vaux — the 1st p. pi. in ons, exc. sommcs 
— the second plural in ez, except in etes, dites, faites. 



FKENCfi TEACH£Il':i ASmSVAWT. 13 

Iniparfait de VIndicatif. 

The terminations of the Imperfect tense are the same in all 
the French verbs : ais, ais, ait, ions, iez,aient. It is formed 
by changing the termination ant of the present participle into 
ais, &c. 

1 (Model.) — avais, avais, await, Sivions, awiez, awaient. 2 
etais. 3 donnais. 4 punissais. 5 devais. 6 vendais. 7 al- 
lais. 8 envoyais. disais. 10 faisais. 11 mettais. 12 pou- 
vais. 13 voyais. 14 voulais. 15 prenais. 16 croyais. 17 
craignais. 18 ofFrais. 19 mourais. 20 servais. 21 valais. 
22 vivais. 23 naissais. 24 mentais. 25 venais. 26 dormais. 
27 lisais. 28 ecrivais. 29 plaisais. 30 cueillais. 31 con- 
naissais. 32 battais. 33 buvais. 34 reduisais. 35 mouvais. 
36 asseyais. 37 vainquais. 38 acquerais. 39 bouillais. 40 
courais. 41 fuyais. 42 vetais. 43 pourvoyais. 44 prevoy- 
ais. 45 concluais. 46 confisais. 47 cousais. 48 moulais. 
49 resolvais. 50 riais. 51 rompais. 52 suivais, 53 trayais. 
54 savais. 

Preterit Defirri. 
1 (Model 1st.) — eus, eus, eut, eumes, eutcs, eurcnt. 2 fus. 
3 (model 2,) donnai, donnas, donna, donndmes, donnates, don- 
nerent. 4 (model 3d,) punis, punw, punit, punimes, punites, 
punirent. 5 dus. 6 vendis. 7 allai. 8 envoyai. 9 dis. 10 
fis. 11 mis. 12 pus. 13 vis. 14 voulus. 15 pris. 16 crus. 
17 craignis. 18 offris. 19 mourus. 20 servis. 21 valus. 
22 vecus. 23 naquis. 24 mentis. 25 (model &th,) wins, wins, 
wint, winmes, wintes, winrent. 26 dormis. 27 lus. 28 ecrivis, 
29 plus. 30 cueillis. 31 connus. 32 battis. 33 bus. 34 
reduisis. 35 mus. 36 assis. 37 vainquis. 38 acquis. 39 
bouillis. 40 courus. 41 fuis. 42 vetis. 43 pourvus. 41 
previs. 45 conclus. 46 confis. 47 cousis, 48 moulus. 49 
resolus. 50 ris. 51 rompis, 52 suivis, 53 wanting. 54 
sus. It serves to form the Imperfect tense Subjunctive mood. 
2 



14 FRENCH TEACHER'S ASSISTANT. 

Futur. 

The terminations of the Future are the same in all the verbs 
of the French language : viz : rai, ras, ra, rons, rez, ront. 

1 (Model) — aurai, auras, aura, auroras, aurez, auront. 2 
serai. 3 donnerai. 4 punirai. 5 devrai. 6 vendrai. 7 irai. 
8 enverrai. 9 dirai. 10 ferai. 11 mettrai. 12 pourrai. 13 
verrai. 14 voudrai. 15 prendrai. 16 croirai. 17 craindrai. 
18 offrirai. 19 mourrai. 20 servirai. 21 vaudrai. 22 vivrai. 
23 naitrai. 24 mentirai. 25 viendrai. 26 dormirai. 27 lirai. 
28 ecrirai. 29 plairai. 30 cueillerai. 31 connaitrai. 32 bat- 
trai. 33 boirai. 34 reduirai. 35 mouvrai. 36 assierai. 37 
vaincrai. 38 acquerrai. 39 bouillirai. 40 courrai. 41 fuirai. 
42 vetirai. 43 pourvoirai. 44 prevoirai. 45 conclurai. 46 
confirai. 47 coudrai. 48 moudrai. 49 resoudrai. 50 rirai. 
51 romprai. 52 suivrai. 53 trairai. 54 saurah 

Conditionnel, Present. 

1 (Model) aurais, aurais, aurait, aurions, auriez, auraient. 
2 serais, &c, from the future, changing the terminations rat, 
ras, ra, rons, rez, ront, into rais, rais, rait, rions, riez, raient. 

Ai in the Future represent the sound of e, but ais, ait, aient, 
in the Conditional, represent the sound of L 

Imperatif, Present. 

1 (2d person sing.) aie, (1st person pi.) ayons, (2d person 
pi.) ayez. 2 sois, soyons, soyez. 7 va. 21 voulez be ivilling, 
or veuillez be so good. 54 sache, sachons, sachez. — In the 
other verbs the 2d person sing., the 1st and the 2d person pi., 
are like the same persons of the present indicative, without the 
pronouns tu, nous, vous. In all the French verbs the 3d person 
sing., and the 3d person pl«, are like the same persons of the 
present of the subjunctive mood. Ex. : 1 aiCil ait, quHls aient, 
&c. 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 15 

Subjonctif, Present, or Futur. 

Terminations = e, es, e, ions, iez, ent, except in 1 and 2. 

1 que f aie, aies, ait, ayons, a^ez, aient. 2 sols, sols, soit, 
soyons, soyez, soient. 3 queje donne, donnes, donne, donnions, 
donniez, donnent. 4 punisse. 5 doive, doives, doive, devions, 
deviez, doivent. 6 vende. 7 aille, allions* 8 envoie envoy ions, 
9 dise. 10 fasse. 11 mette. 12 puisse. 13voie. 14 veuille, 
voulions. 15 prenne, prenions. 16 croie, croyions. 17 eraigne. 
18 offre. 19 meure, mourions. 20 serve. 21 vaiile, VALIONS. 
22 vive. 23 naisse. 24 mente. 25 vienne, venions. 26 
dorme. 27 lise. 28 ecrive. 29 plaise. 30 cueille. 31 con- 
naisse. 32 batte. 33 boive, buvions. 34 reduise. 35 meuve, 
moumons. 36 asseie, asseyions. 37 vainque. 38 acquiere, 
acquerions. 39 bouille. 40 coure. 41 fu\e,fuyions. 42 vete. 
43 pourvoie, pourvoyions. 44 prevoie, prevoyions. 45 conclue, 
conditions. 46 confise. 47 couse. 48 rnoule. 49 resolve. 
50 rie. 51 rompe. 52 suive. 53 traie. 54 sache. 

Imparfait du Subjonctif. 

Terminations = sse, sses, t, ssions, ssiez, ssent 

1 que f eusse, eusses, ent eussions, eussiez, eussent. 2 
fasse. 3 donnasse. 4 punisse. 5 dusse. 6 vendisse. 7 al- 
lasse. 8 envoyasse. 9 disse. 10 fisse. 11 misse. 12 pusse. 
13 visse. 14 voulusse. 15 prisse. 16 crusse. 17 craignisse. 
18 offrisse. 19 mourusse. 20 servisse. 21 valusse. 22 ve- 
cusse. 23 naquisse. 24 mentisse. 25 vinsse. 26 dormisse. 
27 lusse. 28 ecrivisse. 29 plusse. 30 cueillisse. 31 co- 
nnusse. 32 battisse. 33 busse. 34 reduisisse. 35 musse. 
36 assisse. 37 vainquisse. 38 acquisse. 39 bouillisse. 40 
courusse. 41 fuisse. 42 vetisse. 43 pourvusse. 44 previsse. 
45 conclusse. 46 conflsse. 47 cousisse. 48 moulusse. 49 
resolusse. 50 risse. 51 rompisse. 52 sui visse. 53 (wanting,) 
54 susse. 



16 



The imperfect tense of the sub. mood is formed by adding se 
to the second person singular of the preterit indicative. 

Temps Composes, 



Pa? fa it de VInftnitif. 

To have had, avoir en.. To have died, etre mart. 

Participe passe compose. 
Having had, ay ant en. Having died, ctant mort. 

Par fait Indeftni. 
I have had, f at en. I have died, je suis mort. 

Parfait Anterieur. 
I had had, fevs en. I had died, jefus mort. 

PI us-que -parfait. 
I had had, f avals eu. I had died, f etais mort. 
Futur Anterieur. 
shall have had, faurai eu — died, je serai mort. 
Conditionnel Passe. 
I should have had, faurais eu. — died, je serais mort. 

Parfait du Subjonctif. 
That I may have had, quej^aie eu. — died, que je sois mort. 

Plus-que-parfait du Subjonctif. 
That I might have had, quej^eusse eu. — died, qjefusse mort. 

Pluriel des Noms et des Adjectifs. 

To form the plural number of nouns and adjectives, add s to 
the singular. Ex. : pere, father, peres, fathers. 

When they end in s } x, z, in the singular, they do not vary in 
the plural. Ex : fils, son, f Is, sons ; nez, nose, nez, noses. 

When they end in au, eu, add x to form the plural. Ex. : 
eau, water, eaux, waters ; lieu, place, lieux, places. 

When they end in al, change this termination into aux to 
form the plural. Ex. : cJteval, horse, chevaux, horses ; mal, 
evil, maux, evils. 



17 

# Formation du Feminin des Adjectifs. 

1 Grand, grande. 2 Facile, facile. 3 Poli, polie, &c. 
4 Genereux, generewse, &c. 5 Jaioux, jalouse. 6 Cruel, cruelle. 
7 Bon, boone. 8 Pareil, pareille. 9 Ancien, ancienne. 10 Net, 
nette. 11 Leger, legere. 12 Cher, chere. 13 Discret, discrete. 
14 Bas, basse. 15 Gras, grasse. 16 £pais, epaisse. 17 Gros, 
grosse. 18 Sot, sotte. 19 Las, lasse. 20 Gentil, gentille. 
21 Nul, nulle. 22 Bref, breve. 23 Neuf, neuve. 24 Faux, 
fausse. 25 Doux, douce. 26 Beau, belle. 27 Mou, or mol, 
molle. 28 Vieux, or vieil, vieille. 29 Blanc, blanche, 30 Franc, 
franche. 31 Frais, fraiche. 32 Sec, seche. 33 Public, publique. 
34 Long, longue. 35 Malin, maligne. 36 Favori, favorite. 
37 Traitre, traitresse. 

% English of the above Adjectives. 

1 Great. 2 Easy. 3 Polite. 4 Generous. 5 Jealous. 
6 Cruel. 7 Good. 8 Similar. 9 Ancient. 10 Neat. 11 Light. 
12 Dear. 13 Discreet. 14 Base. 15 Fat. 16 Thick. 17 Big. 
18 Silly. 19 Weary. 20 Genteel. 21 Null. 22 Short. 
23 New. 24 False. 25 Sweet. 26 Handsome. 27 Soft. 
28 Old. 29 White. 30 Frank. 31 Fresh. 32 Dry. 33 Pub- 
lick. 34 Long. 35 Malicious. 36 Favorite. 37 Treacherous. 

Formation des Adverbes. 

Grandement, facilement, poliment. 

Genereusement. Cruellement. Bonnement. 

Pareillement. Anciennement. Nettement. 
Legerement. Cherement. Discretement. 

Bassement. Sottement. 

Gentiment. Nullement. Brievement. 
Faussement. Doucement. Bellement. 

Mollement. Blanchement. Franchement. 

Fraichement. Sechement. Publiquement. 

Longuement. Malignement. Traitreusement. 

2* 



18 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT 

Exercises for Nouns. • 

For the English, see the corresponding lines^ 1 , 2, 3, £$c. 

1 Jean a un livre, le livre, le livre de Marie, 

2 peu de livres, beaucoup de # , trop de # , trop peu de # , 

3 autant de # que Jacques, aussi peu de # que moi. 

4 Combien de # avez-vous ? Que de # vous avez ! 

5 E. a de l'argent. E. n'a pas d'argent, beaucoup d'*, peu d ,# . 

6 trop d' # , trop peu d' ; autant d' # que lui ; 

7 aussi peu d, # que nous ; beaucoup d 1# . 

8 Beaucoup de messieurs. Tres-peu de dames : 

9 plus de dames que de messieurs. Moins de gar^ons, 

10 que de filles. J'ai plus d'argent que lui 

11 Elle a moins d'argent qu'eux. Voici 

12 la maison de mon grand'-pere. Voila 

13 les clefs de ma grand'-mere. II a du courage, 

14 assez de courage. II y a, il y avait, &c. 



Exercises for Adjectives, 

15 Mon pere est savant, plus *, moins # que voiiSj 

16 mon cousin est aussi riche que lui, * n'est pas aussi sage 

17 qu'elle. Trop pauvre, pas assez polie. 

18 Que vous etes bon ! Vous etes tres-aimable, 

19 Le plus grand. Le moins grand. La plus grande, 



Exercises for Verbs. 

20 J'ai. Je n'ai pas. Ai-je ? N'ai-je pas ? 

21 Je vais avoir. J'allais % &c. 

22 Je viens d'avoir. Je venais d' K 

23 Je dois f. Je devais # . Je pourrais # . Te pourrais # . 

24 J'aurais pu avoir. Je devrais avoir. 

25 J'aurais du avoir. II faut que j'aie. 

26 II fallait que j'eusse, fusse, donnasse. 

27 II faudra que j'aie, que je sois, &c. 

28 II faudrait que j'eusse, &c. 



FKENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 19 

Exercises for Nouns. 
For the French, see the corresponding lines , 1, 2, 3, djpc. 

1 John has a book, the book, Mary's book, 

2 few books, many*, too many*, too few*, 

3 as many* as James, as few* as I. 

4 How many* have you ? How many* you have ! 

5 E. has money. E. has no money, much*, little*. 

6 too much*, too little* ; as much* as he ; 

7 as little* as we ; a great deal of*. 

8 A great many gentlemen. Very few ladies : 

9 More ladies than gentlemen. Fewer boys 

10 than girls. I have more money than he. 

1 1 She has less money than they. Here is 

12 my grandfather's house. There are 

1 3 your grandmother's keys. He has courage, 

14 courage enough. There is. There was, &c. 



Exercises for Adjectives. 

15 My father is learned, more*, less* than you. 

16 My cousin is as rich as he,* is not so wise 

17 as she. Too poor, not polite enough. 

18 How good you are! You are very amiable. 

19 The most great. The least great. The greatest. 



Exercises for Verbs. 

20 I have. I have not. Have I ? Have I not ? 

21 I am going to have. I was going to * &c. 

22 I have just had. I had just *. 

23 I am to*. I was to*. I might*. I could*. 

24 I might have had. I ought to have. 

25 I ought to have had. I must have. 

26 It was necessary for me to *, to be, to give. 

27 It will be necessary for me to have, to be, &c. 

28 It would be necessary for me to have, &c. 



20 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT, 

29 Le plaisir d'avoir, sans avoir, &c. 

30 Sans que j'aie, que tu aies, qu'il ait. 

31 En ayant, &c., pour avoir, loin d'avoir. 



Exercises for Reflective Verbs. 

32 Je me vois, tu te vois, il se voit. 

33 Nous nous voyons, vous vous voyez, ils se voient. 

34 Je me suis vu. Je ne me suis pas vu. 

35 Me suis-je vu ? Ne me suis-je pas vu ? 

36 Vois-toi. Ne te vois pas. Voyez-vous. 

37 Ne vous voyez pas. Voyons-nous. 

38 Ne nous voyons pas. Qu'il se voie. 



Exercises for some Pronouns and Verbs. 

39 II me le donne. II te le donne : 

40 il nous le donne, il vous le donne : 

41 il le lui donne, il le lui donne : 

42 il le leur donne, il ne me le donne pas. 

43 Me le donne-t-il 1 Oui, il me le donne. 

44 Ne me le donne-t-il pas ? II me l'a donne. 

45 II ne me l'a pas donne. Me l'a-t-il donne ? 

46 Ne me l'a-t-il pas donne ? II ne me l'a pas donne. 

47 A donne, substituez donna, donnera, montre, 

48 montrerait, dit, dira, promet, &c. 

49 A me le, substituez te le, vous le, 

50 nous le, le lui, le lui, le leur. 

51 Je me le suis dit. Je ne me le suis pas dit. 

52 Etes-vous Monsieur A. ? Oui, Monsieur. 

53 Etiez-vous alors en France ? Oui, Madame. 

54 Avez-vous fini votre ouvrage ? Oui, Mademoiselle. 

55 Lui parliez-vous alors ? Oui, nous lui parlions. 

56 Vendra-t-il son jardin? Non, il ne le vendra pas. 

57 Serait il bien aise de me voir? Non, Monsieur, &c. 

58 Je ne vous hais pas. Je crois que si. Oui, vous me ha'issez. 

59 Je n'ai pas fait cela. Oui, vous l'avez fait. 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 21 

29 The pleasure of having, without having, &c. 

30 Without my having, thy having, his having. 

31 In having, &c., for having, far from having. 



Exercises for Reflective Verbs. 

32 I see myself, thou seest thyself, he sees himself. 

33 We see ourselves, you see yourselves, they see themselves. 

34 I have seen myself. I have not seen myself. 

35 Have I seen myself. Have I not seen myself. 

36 See thyself. Do not see thyself. See yourself. 

37 Do not see yourself. Let us see ourselves. 

38 Let us not see ourselves. Let him see himself. 



Exercises for some Pronouns and Verbs* 

39 He gives it to me. He gives it to thee. 

40 He gives it to us. He gives it to you. 

41 He gives it to him. He gives it to her. 

42 He gives it to them. He does not give it to me. 

43 Does he give it to me ? Yes, he does. 

44 Does he not give it to me ! He has given it to me. 

45 He has not given it to me. Has he given it to me ? 

46 Has he not given it to me ? He has not. 

47 For gives substitute gave, will give, shows, 

48 would show, says, said, will say, promises, &c. 

49 For it to me substitute it to thee, it to you, 

50 it to us, it to him, it to her, it to them. 

51 I have said it to myself. I have not said it to myself. 

52 Are you Mr. A. ? I am, sir. 

53 Were you then in France? I was, madam. 

54 Have you finished your work ? I have, miss. 

55 Were you then speaking to him ? Yes, we were. 

56 Will he sell his garden? He will not. 

57 Would he be glad to see me? He would not. 

58 I do not hate you. I think you do. Yes, you do. 

59 I did not do this. Yes, you did. 



22 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 

60 Je n'irai pas a Paris. Oui, vous y irez, &c. 

61 Je donne. Je donne. Je donnais, or donnai. 

62 Je donnais. Je donnai. J'ai donne ce matin. 

63 Devant avoir, &c., or etant sur le point d'avoir. 

64 II n'y a pas moyen d'avoir, &c. II n'y avait pas* &c. 

65 Je peux avoir. Je ne peux pas avoir. Je pourrais avoir. 

66 Je peux avoir. Je puis ne pas avoir. Puis-je ne pas avoir. 

67 Je n'aurais pas pu avoir. J'aurais pu ne pas avoir. 

68 Sans m'etre promene je . . . tu . . . il, nous, &c. 

69 Si j'avais. Si j'avais eu, &c. 

70 Je voudrais avoir. Tu voudrais que j'eusse, &c. 

71 Je voudrais que tu eusses. J'aurais voulu avoir, &c. 

72 Donne-le-moi, — lui. Ne me le donne pas, &c. 



Verbs to be conjugated, like models p. 10, with difficulties. 

73 3. Apporter ; en apporter deux ; chanter juste, faux : 

74 le chercher ^ 4. rajeunir, vieillir ; Ten avertir 

75 y batir ; la choisir ; murir lentement ; finir ; 

76 jouir de la paix ; en jouir ; .6 attendre Jean ; les attendre 

77 mordre ; en repandre ; y perdre ; 3. toucher le piano 

78 mieux que 1'orgue ; aller en mesure ; jouer du violon ; 

79 dejeuner; diner; souper; 10. ne faire que pleurer ; 

80 11. remettre une lettre a quelqu'un ; 12. n'en pouvoir plus ; 

81 20. desservir; 21. ne valoir rien ; 24. sentirbon; 

82 25. les tenir ; 27. lire haut ; 33. boire dans un verre ; 

83 34. traduire ; 37. convaincre ; 40. parcourir ; 43. y pour- 

84 50. sourire; en rire; 52. les y poursuivre; [voir 

85 31. connaitre un monsieur ; 2. etre surpris de cela; 

86 3. marcher vite ; 1. avoir mal a la tete, aux dents ; 

87 1. avoir faim ; avoir soif ; avoir froid ; avoir chaud ; 

88 1. avoir tort ; avoir raison ; 24. partir, sortir ; 

89 25. appartenir ; s'en souvenir ; 34. detruire; 17. teindre 

90 en noir ; 6. s'attendre a quelque chose : s'y attendre ; 

91 18. ouvrir la porte; 3. la fermer; 25. y parvenir; 

92 2. en etre effraye; en etre content ; 1. n'avoir qu'un an 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 23 

60 I will not go to Paris. Yes, you shall go, &c. 

61 I do give. I am giving. I did give. 

62 I was giving, I gave. I gave this morning, &c. 

63 Being about to have, &c. 

64 There is no having, &c. There was no* &c. 

65 I can have. I cannot have. I could have. 

66 I may have. I may not have. May I not have ? 

67 I could not have had. I might not have had. 

68 Without having walked I. . . thou. . . he. . . we. 

69 If I should have. If I should have had, &c. 

70 I wish I had. Thou wishest I had, &c. 

71 I wish thou hadst. I wish I had had, &c. 

72 Give it to me, — to him. Do not give it to me, &c. 



Verbes a conjuguer, comme les modules p. 10, avec dijficultes. 

73 3. to bring; to bring two; to sing in tune, out of tune; 

74 to look forit; 4.togrow younger, older ; to warn him of it; 

75 to build there ; to choose it ; to ripen slowly ; to finish 

76 to enjoy peace ; to enjoy it ; 6. to wait for J. ; wait for them ; 

77 to bite ; to spill some ; to lose by it ; 3. to play on the piano 

78 better than on the organ ; to keep time ; play on the violin ; 

79 to breakfast; to dine; sup; 10. to be always weeping; 

80 11. to deliver a letter to some one; 12. to be exhausted. 

81 20. to clear the table ; 21. to be worthless ; 24. smell good ; 

82 25. hold them ; 27. read loud ; 33. drink out of a glass ; 

83 34. translate ; 37. convince ; 40. run over; 43. provide forit; 

84 50. to smile ; to laugh at it ; 52. to pursue them there ; 

85 31. to know a gentleman ; 2. to be surprised at that ; 

86 3. to walk fast; 1. to have the headache, the toothache; 

87 1. to be hungry ; to be thirsty ; to be cold ; to be warm; 

88 1. to be wrong ; to be right ; 24. to set out ; to go out ; 

89 25. to belong; to remember it; 34. to destroy; 17. to dye 

90 black ; 6 to expect something ; to expect it ; 

91 18. to open the door ; 3. to shut it ; 25. to attain to it ; 

92 2. be frightened at it ; be content with it ; be but one year j 



24 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 

Phrases Modeles. 

1 L'oisivete est la mere de tous les vices. 

2 La France, le Portugal et l'Espagne sont en Europe. 

3 Le sel, la moutarde et Phuile sont sur la table, 

4 Le Parnasse, le Pinde et PHelicon sont les 

5 montagnes favorites des Poetes. 

6 Naples, en Italie, est un pays delicieux, 

7 J'irai en Prusse et en Autriche au printemps. 

8 Je viens de Russie. II arrive de PAmerique. 

9 II demeure a Londres, ville capitale de PAngleterre. 

10 Les fruits de France sont tres bons. 

11 II viendra de Paris a Rome — de France en Italie. 

12 Elle voyage en Suede. Je passerai par le DanemarL 

13 Voici la route de Toulon. 

14 II est maintenant en Hongrie, a Presbourg. 

15 Ce drap vaut cinq dollars la verge: Paune. 

16 Les oeufs valent un quart de piastre la douzaine. 

17 Deux chelins, le boisseau. Quatre sous la pinte. 

18 Une guinee le quintal. Cela coute un dollar la livre. 

19 Les choux se vendent jusqu'a trois piastres le cent. 

20 Je lui donne une guinee par lecon. 

21 II prend trois lecons de musique par semaine, par mois. 

22 Je vais en Afrique deux fois par an. 

23 II me faut du papier, de l'encre, et des plumes. 

24 J'ai de beau papier, de bonne encre, de beaux livres. 

25 Le plus habile medecin, or le medecin le plus habile. 

26 Livre premier, chapitre second, paragraphe trois, &c> 

27 Louis premier, second, trois, quatre, cinq, six, &c. 

28 Le premier de Janvier, le deux de J. le trois, &c. 

29 Plus j'etudie, plus j'apprends. Moins j'etudie, moins. 

30 Monsieur A., membre du Congres, est mort. 

31 Le due d'Orleans, prince du sang royal. 

32 Femmes, enfants, vieillards, maisons, tout fut detruif. 

33 Cet horn me n'a ni justice ni humanite. 

34 Je suis Americain, II est avocat. 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 25 

Model Phrases, 

1 Idleness is the mother of all vices. 

2 France, Portugal and Spain are in Europe. 

3 The salt, mustard and oil are on the table. 

4 Parnassus, Pindus and Helicon are the 

5 favorite mountains of the poets. 

6 Naples, in Italy, is a delightful country. 

7 I shall go to Prussia and Austria in the spring. 

8 I came from Russia. He arrives from America. 

9 He lives in London, the capital city of England. 

10 French fruits are very good. 

11 He will come from Paris to Rome — from France to Italy. 

12 She is travelling in Sweden. I will pass through Denmark^ 

13 Here is the road to Toulon. 

14 He is now in Hungary, at Presburg. 

15 This cloth is worth five dollars a yard : an ell. 

16 Eggs are worth a quarter of a dollar a dozen. 

17 Two shillings a bushel. Four cents a pint. 

18 A guinea a hundred-weight. That costs a dollar a pound. 

19 Cabbages are sold as high as three dollars a hundred. 

20 I give him a guinea a lesson. 

21 He takes three music lessons a week — a month. 

22 I go to Africa twice a year. 

23 I want paper, ink, and pens. 

24 I have fine paper, good ink, fine books. 

25 The most skilful physician- 

26 Book the first, chapter the second, paragraph the third, &c. 

27 Louis the first, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, &c. 

28 The first of January, the 2d, of J., 3d, &c. 

29 The more I study, the more I learn. The less I study, the 

30 Mr. A., a member of Congress, is dead. [less 

31 The duke of Orleans, a prince of the blood royal. 

32 Women, children, old people, houses, all was destroyed, 

33 This man has neither justice nor humanity. 

34 I am an American. He is a lawyer, 

3 



26 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 

1 Je suis satisfait de mon sort — de vivre, &c. 

2 II est propre a la guerre — digne de regner. 

3 Moi qui suis, toi qui es, lui qui est nous qui sommes, &c. 

4 C'est moi qu'on demande, c'est toi, lui. 

5 Personne ne le sait, &c. Pas un, or, nul ne le croit. 

6 Vous, votre frere et moi, nous lisons. 

7 Tout genre d'exces nuit a la sante. 

8 J'entrais au moment ou vous sortiez. 

9 Cesar etait un habile general. 

10 J'ecrivis hier a votre tante. 

11 Vous m'avaz fait plaisir en venant me voir. 

12 J'ai dine aujourd' hui, cette semaine, ce mois ci, avec A. 

13 Quand j'eus dine hier, midi sonna. 

14 J'avais fini quand il entra. 

15 Lorsque j' etais a la campagne, des que j' avais dejeune, 

16 J'allais a la chasse ou a la peche. 

17 Quand j'aurai dine, je sortirai. 

18 J'aurais vendu la maison, si vous aviez ete ici- 

19 J'eusse vendu la maison, si vous eussiez ete ici. 

20 II faut que j'aille a A. II faudra que j'ailie. 

21 II fallait . . . il faudrait que j'allasse. 

22 J'ai donne, nous avons donne, une pomme a B. 

23 La pomme que j'ai donnee, que nous avons donnee a, &c. 

24 Ma soeur s'est promenee. Ma soeur s'est dit que. . 

25 Dites toujours la verite. Je le vois souvent. 

26 Ne vous ecartez jamais du sentier de l'honneur. 

27 Quoique je sois riche. A moins que je ne sois. . 

28 De peur que je ne sois — de peur que je ne fusse. . 

29 II a bien de l'esprit, or beaucoup d'esprit. 

30 Frequentez la bonne compagnie, et fuyez la mauvaise. 

31 Moi, trahir mon meilleur ami ! Non, jamais. 

32 Moi, qui suis vieux, je le ferais. 

33 Penser ainsi, c'est s'aveugler soi-meme. 

34 £tes-vous le pere? Oui, je le suis. 

35 £tes-vous la mere? Oui, je la suis. 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 27 

1 I am satisfied with my lot — with living, &c. 

2 He is fit for war — worthy of reigning. 

3 I who am, thou who art, he who is, we who are, &c. 

4 It is I whom they ask for, it is thou, he. 

5 No body knows it, &c. Not one, ou no body believes it. 

6 You, your brother and I, are reading. 

7 Every kind of excess is hurtful to health. 

8 I came in at the moment you were going out. 

9 Csesar was an able general. 

10 I wrote to your aunt yesterday. 

11 You have given me pleasure by coming to see me. 

12 I have dined to-day, this week, this month, with A. 

13 When I had dined, yesterday, it struck twelve. 

14 1 had done, when he came in. 

15 When I was in the country, as soon as I had breakfasted, 

16 1 used to go a hunting, or a fishing. 

17 When I have dined, I shall go out. 

18 1 would have sold the house, had you been here, 

19 I would have sold the house, if you had been here. 

20 I must go to A. It will be necessary for me to go. 

21 It was necessary, it would be necessary for me to go. 

22 I have given, we have given, an apple to B. 

23 The apple which I have given, which we have given to A. 

24 My sister has walked. My sister has said to herself that. . 

25 Always tell the truth. I often see him. 

26 Never deviate from the path of honour. 

27 Although I am rich. Unless I should be . . 

28 Lest I should be ** Lest I should be . . 

29 He has much wit. 

30 Frequent good, and shun bad company. 

31 I, betray my best friend ! No, never. 
31 I, who am old, would do it. 

33 To think in this manner, is to blind one's-self. 

34 Are you the father? Yes, I am. 

35 Are you the mother? Yes, I am. 



28 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 

1 Cette idee le poursuit, le tourmente et l'accable. 

2 Le climat en est delicieux. La source en est en B, 

3 J'ai mal a la tete — mal aux dents — mal au pied. 

4 Son oncle, sa tante et ses amis sont de retour. 

5 L'homme qui vient — dont vous savez le nom — a qui 

6 vous parlez souvent — que vous aimez — de qui vous 

7 avez recu plusieurs lettres, est un de mes amis. 

8 Le livre qui est sur la table — dont vous aimez le titre, 

9 auquei vous avez si souvent fait allusion, 

10 dont vous avez extrait plusieurs phrases, est a moi, 

11 Voila le but ou il tend — la chose d'ou 

12 depend mon bonheur — les lieux par ou, &c. 

13 Ce qui flatte est plus dangereux que ce qui offense. 

14 Ce que j'aime le plus, c'est d'etre seul. 

15 Ce dont vous venez de parler est horrible. 

16 Cette montre ressemble a celle de votre frere. 

17 Celui que j'aime, celle que j'admire, ceux que, celles que. , 

18 Celui de vous qui partera Anglais. Celle de vous, &, 

19 Personne n'est aussi heureux que moi, &c. 

20 Ces dames tout eclairees qu'elles sont. 

21 Ces dames toutes jeunes qu'elles sont. 

22 Quelques richesses que vous ayez. 

23 Quelques bonnes oeuvres que vous fassiez. 

24 Quelque bon, quelque bonne, bons, bonnes, quevous soyez. 

25 Quel que soit mon objet. Quelle que soit mon intention. 

26 La plupart des hommes sont trop prompts dans leurs juge- 

27 Bien des philosophes se sont trompes. [ments. 

28 Aime-je? Est-ce que je cours? Est-ce que je dors, &c. 

29 Dusse-je y perir, j'irai. Puisse-je vous revoir! 

30 Cet officier attaqua la ville et s'en rendit maitre. 

31 J'irai demain a la campagne, s'il fait beau. 

32 Je sais qu'il est surpris. Je doute qu'il soit surpris. 

33 Je souhaite qu'il reussisse. Je crains qu'il ne vienne. 

34 Je ne crains pas qu'il vienne. Croyez-vous qu'il soit? 
3& II m'assura qu'il n'avait jamais tant ri. 

3* 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 29 

1 This idea pursues, torments, and overwhelms him, 

2 Its climate is delightful. Its source is in B. 

3 I have the headache — the toothache — a sore foot. 

4 His uncle, aunt, and friends are come back. 

5 The man who is coming — whose name you know — to whom 

6 you often speak — whom you love — from whom you 

7 have received several letters, is a friend of mine. 

8 The book which is on the table, the title of which you like, 

9 to which you so often alluded, 

10 from which you have extracted several phrases, is mine. 

11 That is the end he aims at — the thing on which 

12 my happiness depends — the places through which, &c. 

13 What natters is more dangerous than what offends. 

14 What I like most, is to be alone. 

15 What you have just been mentioning is horrid. 

16 This watch resembles that of your brother. 

17 He whom I love — she whom I admire — they whom, &. 

18 Whichever of you will speak English? Whichever, &c. 

19 Nobody is as happy as I am, &c. 

20 These ladies enlightened as they are. 

21 These ladies young as they are. 

22 Whatever riches you may have. 

23 Whatever good actions you do. 

24 However good you may be. 

25 Whatever my object may be. Whatever my intention be. 

26 Most men are too hasty in their judgments. 

27 Many philosophers have been mistaken. 

28 Do I love? Do I run? Do I sleep? &c. 

29 Were I to perish there, I will go. May I see you again ! 

30 This officer attacked and made himself master of the town. 

31 I shall go into the country to-morrow, if the weather be fine. 

32 I know he is surprised. I doubt his being surprised, 

33 I wish he may succeed. I fear lest he should come. 

34 I do not fear his coming. Do you believe he is? 

35 He assured me that he had never laughed so much. 



30 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 

1 II est alle se promener. II y a plaisir 

2 a fermer la bouche aux grands parleurs. 

3 Le roi etait sur son trone, et les grands etaient a l'entour. 

4 Autour du trdne. Avant ce temps — avant paques. 

5 Si vous partez, venez me voir auparavant. 

6 Je suis pret a faire ce que vous voudrez. 

7 Mon ouvrage est pres d'etre fini. 

8 II se fit jour au travers des ennemis, ou a travers les ennemis. 

9 II a le pas devant moi. II est arrive avant moi. 

10 II a paru devant le juge. II loge devant Peglise. 

11 Si vous etes presse, courez devant. 

12 L'armee est en campagne. N. est a la campagne. 

13 Pres de la maison. A l'insu de son frere. Au dessus du pont. 

14 II ne lit pas. II ne lit point. 

15 Je ne sors guere. Je ne sortirai de trois jours. 

16 Je n'y vais jamais. Je n'y ai jamais ete. ' Je n'ai qu'un B. 

17 Je m'y suis promene. Je m'y suis sou vent promene. 

18 Je m'en suis aper<ju. Je ne m'en suis pas aper^u. 

19 Je n'en ai qu'un — deux, &c. Je n'en ai eu q'un, &c. 

20 Je n'y vois goutte. Je ne l'aime ni ne l'estime. 

21 Que n'etes vous riche ! II ne tient qu'a N. de reussir. 

22 Je ne nie pas que cela ne soit. Je ne saurais le faire. 

23 Prenez garde qu'on ne vous trompe, de tomber. 

24 II a plus d'argent que d'esprit. 

25 Autant de courage que de force. Moins d'or que d'argent. 

26 J'ai quelque chose de bon. II y a eu quatre bommes tues. 

27 II n'est rien moins que genereux. Suivez-moi. 

28 Fiez-vous a moi. Le docteur M. est un de mes amis. 

29 Le capitaine N. est mort. II est mort aujourd'hui. 

30 II y a long-temps que je n'ai vu N. Une maison de brique. 

31 Un palais de marbre. Un moulin a vent. Un moulin a eau. 

32 Une tabatiere d'or. Un mur de dix pieds de long, 

33 de vingt pieds de haut — d'un pied d'epaisseur, &c. 

34 D'un pied de large, de tour, de circonference. 

35 Toutes les vielles gens sont soupqonneux. 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 31 

1 He is gone walking. There is a pleasure 

2 in silencing great talkers. 

3 The king was on his throne, and the grandees stood round. 

4 Round the throne. Before that time — before Easter. 

5 If you set off, corne and see me first. 

6 I am ready to do what you please. 

7 My work is nearly finished. 

8 He fought his way through the enemy. 

9 He has precedence of me. He arrived before me. 

10 He appeared before the judge. He lodges before the church. 

11 If you are in a hurry, run before. 

12 The army has taken the field. N. is in the country. 

13 Near the house. Unknown to his brother. Above the bridge. 

14 He does not read now. He does not read at all. 

15 I do not go out much. I shall not go out for three days. 

16 1 never go thither. I have never been there. I have but one B. 

17 I have walked there. I have often walked there. 

18 I perceived it. I have not perceived it. 

19 I have but one, two, &c. I have had but one, &c. 

20 I do not see at all. I neither love nor esteem him. 

21 Why are you not rich ? The success wholly depends on N. 

22 I do not deny that it is so. I cannot do it. 

23 Take care that they do not cheat you 3 not to fall. 

24 He has more money than wit. 

25 As much courage as strength. Less gold than silver. 

26 I have something good. There have been four men killed. 

27 He is far from being generous. Follow me. 

28 Trust to me. Dr. M. is a friend of mine. 

29 Captain N. is dead. He has died to-day. 

30 I have not seen N. this long time. A brick house. 

31 A marble palace. A wind-mill. A water-mill. 

32 A snuff-box. A wall ten feet long, 

33 twenty feet high, one foot thick, &c. 

34 One foot wide, round, in circumference. 

35 All old people arc distrustful. 



32 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 

1 II a casse le pot a l'eau et la bouteille a l'encre. 

2 Voulez-vous coucher dans le grenier a foin ? 

3 Les habits a la Francaise sont maintenant a la mode. 

4 On est venu vous demander. 

5 On n'est ni vertueux ni mechant a demi. 

6 On doit toujours etre soumise a son mari. 

7 Je suis plus grand que vous de toute la tete. 

8 J'ai perdu au jeu plus de cent dollars. 

9 II est plus sage que vous ne pensez. 

10 II est plus aise d'obeir que de commander. 

1 1 II est plus sujet a medire qu'a bien faire. 

12 Nous ne pleurons pas toujours quand nous sommes 

13 le plus affliges. C'est le meilleur homme du monde. 

14 C'est l'homme le plus fort que j'aie jamais vu. 

15 II faut etre poli envers tout le monde. 

16 Ce maitre est tres-bon envers ses esclaves. 

17 Ma tante, irez-vous ce soir au theatre? 

18 Je me suis fait couper les cheveux. 

19 J'ai mal a l'oreille et aux yeux. 

20 Est-ce la la maison de votre oncle? 

21 C'est un homme qui a de quoi vivre. 

22 II n'y a rien dont il ne soit capable. 

23 Le siecle ou, ou dans lequel, nous vivons. 

24 La rose est la reine de fleurs, 

25 aussi est-elle I'embleme de la beaute. 

26 Autant vaudrait-il lui dire ce qu'il en est. 

27 Votre maitre est-il a la maison ? 

28 Donnez-le moi. Envoyez-la lui. Pretez-les leur. 

29 N'y en a-t-il pas suffisamment ? 

30 Avoir un ami, c'est avoir un autre soi-meme. 

31 Cette fern me a l'air bon, ou i'air d'etre bonne. 

32 II me tarde de voir mon pays natal. 

33 Lui et eux ne partiront pas, j'en suis sur. 

34 Les consolations les plus touchantes 

35 sont celles qui nous sont oiFertes par la religion. 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 33 

1 He has broken the water-pot and the ink-bottle, 

2 Will you lie in the hay-loft? 

3 French coats are now fashionable. ■ 

4 Somebody is come to ask for you. 

5 We are neither virtuous nor wicked by halves. 

6 A woman should always be obedient to her husband. 

7 I am taller than you by the whole head. 

8 1 lost in playing, more than a hundred dollars. 

9 He is wiser than you think. 

10 It is easier to obey than to command. 

11 He is more used to slander than to well-doing. 

12 We do not always weep when we are 

13 the most afflicted. He is the best man in the world. 

14 He is the strongest man that I ever saw. 

15 We must be polite to every body. 

16 This master is very good to his slaves. 

17 Aunt, will you go to the theatre this evening? 

18 1 have had my hair cut. 

19 My ears and eyes are sore. 

20 Is that the house of your uncle? 

21 He is a man who has wherewith to live upon. 

22 There is nothing of which he is not capable. 

23 The age we live in, or, in which we live. 

24 The Rose is the queen of flowers, 

25 therefore it is the emblem of beauty. 

26 It would be as well, to tell him how the matter stands. 

27 Is your master at home, or in ? 

28 Give it to me. Send it to him. Lend them to them, 

29 Is there not plenty of it ? • 

30 To have a friend is to have another self. 

31 This woman has a good-natured countenance 

32 I long to see my native country. 

33 He and they will not set off, I am sure. 

34 The most endearing consolations 

35 are those which are offered to us by religion. 



34 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 

KEY TO PRONUNCIATION. 
The numeral signs, 1, 2, 3, &c, are intended to recall the 
sounds represented by the" italic letters in the following 

STANDARD WORDS. 

la I'd 2e-2 2 eu- 2 e 3e-3 s e 4i,4z 5o 5 5 d 6u lou San. 

ma, mat, pre-new-se, de-ces, ci-git, trop — tot, \u, cow, paw. 

9in Won llun 12oi IZoin llch 15gn 16/ Hill. 

\in, bow, brun, hi, loin chaise, o^Tion, jeune, ai/Ze. 

B, D, G, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, Z, are sounded as in English. 

Sounds peculiar to French, those of u, an, in, on, un,gn,ill. 

The eighteen beginnings of the compound syllables: 
b, d, f, g, k, 1, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, z. ch, 14 ; gn, 15 ; j 16 ; ill, 17. 

The thirteen terminations of the compound syllables: 
1 l 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 
a, a, eu, e, e, e i, o, 6 u, ou, an, in, on, un, oi, oin. 

Equivalents: — ceu = 2 2 . e, ei, ai = 3, or 3 3 . au, eau = 
5, or 5 5 . am, en = 8. im, yn, ym, ain, ein, en = 9. om = 
10. urn == 11. C hard == h, p, qu. C soft = hard s. G 
soft = French ^\ S between two vowels ■= z. T in tion tions 
final, is often equivalent to s hard. Th = t. W = v or ou 7. 
H "aspirate" or " mute," as it is called, is never sounded. 

When final d, f, g, s x, are joined to the vowel beginning the 
next word, d = t, f = v, g = k, s and x = z. 

When you are not able to determine whether a vowel sound 
is long or short, close or open, make it neither too long nor too 
short, neither too open nor too close. 

Remarks on E, ES, ENT, ET, ER, EZ, Y. 

E final, preceded by a vowel, is silent. Ex. : vie, joue. 

E before two consonants, the second of which is r = 2 : regret. 

E before rr, or double consonants, = 3 3 , or e short. Ex. : terre. 



FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 35 

E before a final consonant other than s, = e, or e. Ex. : avec. 
E before mm of the termination emment, is sounded a, 1. 
ES ending polysyllables =± 2, or 2 . Ex. : justes, places. 
ES ending monosyllables = 3 3 . Ex : ces, des, mes, tes, ses. 
ENT ending 3d person plurai of verbs, is equivalent to e, 2, or 
a, or is silent. Ex. : parlent, aiment, creent, prient,jouent. 
ENT = 8, in comment, sentiment, sent, consent and the like. 
ENT = 9, in the 3d person sing, of the verbs tenir, venir; vient. 
EZ and ER, terminations of verbs, = e, 3 ; avez, aimer. 
Y between two vowels == i, i. Ex : ayant = ai-i-ant. 
X as in English = ks, k, gz, s, z. 

Termination of some Tenses of Verbs. 
AI, ending preterit, or future =6, 3. Ex. : faurai, aimai. 
AIS, AIT, AIENT, ending imp., or "conditional,"— 3 3 . 
Of two similar consonants in succession, sound but one. 
CC& = kse: cci = ksi. GGE = gje: ggi = gji. Acces. 
Final consonants are not sounded, except c, f, 1, r. 
R is sounded in ers, ending verbs, and in ert, erts, final. 

Division of Words into Syllables. 

The exercise of dividing words into syllables is strongly 
recommended : it ought to be, for a long time, frequently prac 
tised. 

When you divide words into syllables, recollect that the begin- 
ning of a compound syllable is a consonant sound, and the end 
always a vowel sound — that m or n before a vowel in the same 
word has its proper sound ; that morn final, or before a conso- 
nant, is taken in combination with the preceding vowel or vowels. 

A consonant sounded at the end of a word, or before another 
consonant, ought to be considered as forming a compound sylla- 
ble, with the very faint sound of e (" e mute ;") but, as most of 
the consonants are sounded alike in both languages, a compound 
syllable may be formed by taking one, two, three, and even four 
consonants with the following vowel sound. Ex. : abstrait = 
a-bstrait. 



36 FRENCH STUDENT'S ASSISTANT. 

How to divide into Syllables, and Pronounce AIL, AILL, Sec. 
Aill=l + 17. Eill=3 3 + 17. Euill=2 2 + 17. Ouill=7 + 17. 
Cueil, and cueill = K 2 2 + 17. Gueil, and gueill = g 2 2 + 17. 
Ail and ails final =1 + 17. Eil and eils final = 3 3 + 17. 
Euil and euils final = 2 2 + 17. Ouil, ouils final = 7 + 17. 

Remark, — Some persons use, instead of the sound of liquid I 
(" I mouille") a sound approaching that of i very long, or y in 
year. Ex.: {ox file they say f -ye. 

Only 13 vocal compound syllables can be formed with every 
consonant sound; Ex.: ba, be, be, be, bi, bo, bu, bou, ban, bin, 
bon, bun, boi, boin. Make a table of all of them in the same 
manner, by prefixing a consonant sound to a simple syllabic. 

Whole number of compound syllables 18 times 13, or 234 
" " simple syllables 13 

Whole number of vocal syllables in French 247 

The number of written syllables is greater than that of vocal 
syllables, because there are several of the French sounds which 
can be represented in various ways. (See Equivalents.) 

Directions for Reading French well. 

1st. Give each letter, or combination of letters, its proper 
sound. 

2d. Place the stress of the voice on the last loud syllable of 
every word. Ex. : canAl, cabAle. 

3d. In conversation and familiar reading, pronounce very 
faintly, or " whisper" the second vowel sound, that of " e mute" 
when you can whisper it easily. Ex. : instead of Je le sais, 
say, Je Vsais. 

4th. Join the last consonant of a word to the vowel sound 
which begins the next word, when the sense admits of no pause 
between the two ivords. 

The surest and speediest way of obtaining a correct pronun- 
ciation, is, to repeat very attentively and frequently, after a per- 
son who pronounces well, all the elementary sounds properly 
presented, portions of phrases, and whole sentences. 

THE END, 



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